England and Wales Population Hits 62 Million Amidst Record Emigration and Low Birth Rate

The population of England and Wales has reached an estimated 62 million for the first time, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This milestone was achieved despite a record number of over 604,000 people emigrating abroad in the year to June 2025.

Over the same period, the population saw an increase of 224,000, representing growth of just under half a percent. International migration played a crucial role, with 816,500 arrivals compared to the 604,800 departures. Net international migration to England and Wales stood at 211,700, a significant decrease from 612,500 in the preceding year.

Birth rates contributed minimally to population growth, with 588,000 births recorded – the lowest figure since mid-1978. While births still outnumbered deaths by 19,600, the overall population increase was primarily driven by immigration.

Regional Population Trends

All regions in England experienced population increases except for London, which saw a 0.29 percent decline. This decrease in the capital is attributed to an increase in residents moving to other parts of the United Kingdom.

The local authority with the highest annual population growth was Rugby in Warwickshire, at 2.4 percent. Conversely, the Isles of Scilly recorded the largest population decline at 3.5 percent, followed by Camden in North London with a 1.8 percent decrease.

An Ageing Population

The data also highlighted an ageing demographic. The median age in England rose to 40.6 years, and in Wales, it reached 43.2 years. The number of individuals aged 100 and over increased by 3.7 percent to an estimated 15,172, a rise of over 20 percent compared to 2015 figures. Furthermore, the population aged over 90 saw a substantial increase of 16.3 percent, reaching an estimated 581,400 in England and Wales by mid-2025.

This trend of an ageing population is considered a contributing factor to ongoing challenges within the social care system. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has committed to addressing these issues, noting a doubling in the number of individuals over 65 admitted to A&E, some from social care settings, from 2010 to six million.