Migration and natural change data for this reference date (30 June 2016) are available through this release. This proportion is projected to decline even further in future years. An overview of the UK population, how it’s changed, what has caused it to change and how it is projected to change in the future. The proportion of the UK population who could be described as “traditional working age” (16 to 64 years old) has remained relatively stable over the last 40 years, but it is projected to decline in future years as a result of the growth of the ageing population. Source: Population estimates for UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: mid-2017, Office for National StatisticsPopulation estimates for UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: mid-2017, Office for National Statistics This is not the latest release. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Since 1955 (except in 1976) the number of births in the UK has been higher than the number of deaths. Please provide the approximate population for the UK with a breakdown by country. The report was corrected at 10:30 on 03/03/2017 to change numbers in the section 2. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us on pop.info@ons.gov.uk. The population pyramid (Figure 2) shows the age and sex of the population. When accessing any of our files please read the 'notes, terms and conditions' contained within them. The Overview of the UK: July 2017 (published 21 July 2017) presents the latest available data for each subject at the time of publication. This is an important consideration for the provision of health and social care services and pensions. At older ages women begin to outnumber men; this is particularly evident in those aged over 80. You’ve accepted all cookies. We published the latest mid-2016 population estimates on 23 June 2017. These estimates show the population of the UK and its constituent areas and countries as follows: Immigration has been higher than emigration since the early 1990s. Hide. In the late 1980s, the population began to grow again when the 1960s’ baby boomers were having children, “echoing” earlier growth. You’ve accepted all cookies. Other indicators visualized on maps: (In English only, for now) Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) The UK’s population is getting older – but it’s not the same in all areas of the UK The population in 2016 was at its largest ever, at 65.6 million and projected to reach 74 million by 2039. Recent uplifts in population growth have generally coincided with an increase in the number of countries holding EU membership. While it is growing, improvements in healthcare and lifestyles mean the population is getting older; in 2016 in the UK, 18% of people were aged 65 and over, and 2.4% were aged 85 and over. In 2015, levels of immigration (631,500) were more than double those of emigration (299,200). While living longer is a cause for celebration, an ageing population may result in fewer people of working age to support those of pension age. Life expectancy over the last few decades has been steadily increasing. Girls born in 2015 can expect to live 82.8 years from birth, 4 years more than girls born in 1991. We would like to use cookies to collect information about how you use ons.gov.uk. The decline has been because people are living longer. Please also clarify how the Net Migration and Natural Changes figures should relate i.e. When accessing any of our files please read the 'notes, terms and conditions' contained within them. It is projected that the population will grow steadily, passing 70 million people in 2026 (Figure 1). We would like to use cookies to collect information about how you use ons.gov.uk. These estimates show the population of the UK and its constituent areas and countries as follows: You can find more detailed data (including lower levels of geography, sex and single year of age) in the tables downloadable from the link above. Everything you need to know about Freedom of Information and how to go about making a request. Births peaked again in 2012 reaching 813,000. The population also increases if there are more births than deaths. Everything you need to know about Freedom of Information and how to go about making a request. We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve our services. The overview of the UK includes more recent net migration and natural change data for the annual period year-ending December 2016. All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated, /aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/freedomofinformationfoi/ukpopulation2017. The number of deaths peaked in 1976 at 681,000 before steadily declining until 2011. We said. By 2037, this is projected to increase to 365 people.