UK population to rise to 72.5 million by 2032 due to net migration

The population of the UK is set to rise to 72.5 million by 2032, driven mainly by net migration

Net migration is the main driving force behind the predicted population increase. This takes into account the amount of people leaving the country versus those who enter, and is anticipated to come out at 4.9 million people over the 10 years.

The number of births and deaths looks to remain steady, but there is expected to be 1.7 million more pensioners by 2032.

The ONS projections are as follows:

• 6.79 million people will be born
• 6.81 million people will die
• 9.91 million people will immigrate long-term to the UK
• 4.98 million people will emigrate long-term from the UK

The figures suggest that net migration will rise to 340,000 from 2028, compared to previous projections of 315,000. Both of these figures are lower than current yearly levels.

In the year to June 2023, net migration hit 906,000, and then fell to 728,000 in the year to June 2024.

Projections say that net migration will continue to fall until 2028.

Downing Street has responded to the figures, and said they plan to reduce the "staggeringly high" migration levels, but ruled out an "arbitrary" cap.

A spokesperson for Keir Starmer said that a "supposed cap" that was previously in place "didn't have any meaningful impact on reducing immigration".

"So he doesn't think that setting an arbitrary cap, as previous governments have done, is the best way forward in terms of significantly reducing migration," they added.