| Demographics ofthe United Kingdom | |
|---|---|
 Population pyramid in 2021 | |
| Population |  69,281,437 (2024)[1] |
| Density | 285/km2 (740/sq mi) (2024)[1] |
| Growth rate | 0.85% (2022)[2] |
| Birth rate | 10.3/1,000 population (2021)[3] |
| Death rate |  10.0/1,000 population (2021)[3] |
| Life expectancy | |
| • male |  78.6 years of age (2020–2022)[4] |
| • female | 82.6 years of age (2020–2022)[4] |
| Fertility rate | 1.53 (2021)[3] |
| Infant mortality rate |  4.0 deaths/1,000 live births (2021)[3] |
| Net migration rate | 2.9 migrants/1,000 population (2024 est.)[5] |
| Age structure | |
| 0–14 years | 17.2% (2022)[2] |
| 15–64 years | 64.0% (2022)[2] |
| 65 and over | 18.8% (2022)[2] |
| Sex ratio | |
| Total | 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)[5] |
| At birth | 1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.)[5] |
| Under 15 | 1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.)[5] |
| 15–64 years | 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)[5] |
| 65 and over | 0.85 male(s)/female (2024 est.)[5] |
| Nationality | |
| Nationality | British citizen |
| Major ethnic | |
| Minor ethnic |
|
| Language | |
| Official | English |
| Spoken | Scots · Irish · Scottish Gaelic · Welsh · Cornish · Manx |
The population of the United Kingdom was estimated at 69.3 million in 2024.[9] It is the21st most populated country in the world and has a population density of 285 people per square kilometre (740 people/sq mi), withEngland having significantly greater density thanWales,Scotland, andNorthern Ireland.[1] Almost a third of the population lives in south east England, which is predominantly urban and suburban, with 9,089,736 people in the capital city,London, whose population density was 5,782 inhabitants per square kilometre (14,980/sq mi) in 2024.[1]
The population of the UK has undergonedemographic transition— from a typically pre-industrial population, with highbirth andmortality rates and slow population growth, through a stage of falling mortality and faster rates of population growth, to a stage of low birth and mortality rates with, again, lower rates of growth. This growth through 'natural change' has been accompanied in the past three decades by growth through netimmigration into the United Kingdom, which since 1999 has exceeded natural change.[10]
The United Kingdom's highliteracy rate of 99% at age 15 and above,[11] is attributable touniversal state education, introduced at the primary level in1870 (Scotland 1872, free 1890[12]) and at the secondary level in 1900. Parents are obliged to have their children educated from the ages of 5 to 16 years. In England, 16–17-year olds should remain in education, employment or training in the form ofA-Levels,vocational training, and apprenticeships, until the age of 18.[13]
The United Kingdom's population is predominantlyWhite British (75.98% at the2021 Census), but due to migration mostly fromCommonwealth nations, Britain has becomeethnically diverse. The second and third largest non-white racial groups areAsian British at 8.6% of the population, followed byBlack British people at 3.71%.
The main language of the United Kingdom isBritish English.Scots is widely spoken in many parts of Scotland, as isScottish Gaelic, aCeltic language.Cornish andIrish have been revived to a limited degree inCornwall andNorthern Ireland, but the predominant language in all these areas is English.Welsh is widely spoken as a first language in parts ofNorth andWest Wales, and to lesser extent inSouth East Wales, where English is the dominant first language.[citation needed]
Roman Britain had an estimated population between 2.8 million and 3 million at the end of the second century AD. At the end of the fourth century, it had an estimated population of 3.6 million, of whom 125,000 consisted of theRoman army and their families and dependents.[14] The urban population of Roman Britain was about 240,000 people at the end of the fourth century.[14] Roman Britain's capital city,Londinium, is estimated to have had a population of about 60,000.[15][16]
Following the Roman withdrawal from Britain, Germanic tribes from continental Europe such as theAngles,Saxons andJutes began a period ofsignificant migration to the southeastern part of the island, notably bringing their language,Old English.[17] Nevertheless, the overall population is believed to have fallen precipitously due to political upheavals and plagues.[18][19] By the time of the compilation of theDomesday Book in the eleventh century, there may have between 1.25 and 2 million people living in England.[20] Though the Domesday Book did not count the English population, it has been regarded as one of the first attempts to produce a census of the country.[21]
Between the years of 1086 and 1750, the English population fluctuated in size due to civil war, famines and plagues.[10] By the end of the 13th century, the population was estimated to have reached between four and six million people. A combination of factors such as widespread famine and disease in the following century collapsed the population dramatically. An agricultural crisis in 1315 to 1322 and theBlack Death in 1348 to 1350 collapsed the population by over a third of its pre-existing number, and the growth rate.[10] In 1377, the population was estimated via a poll-tax of all people aged 14 and over, depending on the population amount of those under 14, to be around 2.2 million to 3.1 million.[10]
Periods of instability over the 15th century, such as theWars of the Roses, caused the population to increase at a slower pace.[10] The general factors behind this were a high mortality rate due to war, fewer marriages within the population, late marriages (keeping fertility levels low) and a net emigration of English people out of the country.[10] By the 16th century, the situation had changed due to political stability under theTudor monarchy and little civil unrest, which would have resulted in a higher mortality rate.[10] While this was overturned with the English Civil War in 17th century, it allowed the population to grow at a faster pace, causing the population of England to reach a pre-collapse total of 5.74 million by 1750.[10]
InScotland, population growth was not to the same extent as it was in England, which resulted in being significantly lower in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, which is often ascribed to similar factors halting it such as a high mortality rate, especially for infants, and later marriage and childbearing patterns.[10] Ireland before the 19th century consistently had rapid population growth, which has been ascribed to higher fertility rates and earlier age of marriage than in England. ThePlantation of Ulster in the 17th century also affected the population of Scotland, with an estimated 100,000 Scots migrating toUlster. TheJacobite rebellion in 1745 also caused significant emigration.[10] The estimated population total of Scotland in 1691 was 1.23 million.[10]
The impetus to collect population data was reinforced due to food supply concerns andwar against France in the late 18th century and the beginning of the early 19th century.[10] In 1800, theCensus Act was passed, authorising the first modern census in British history to be conducted.[10]
The firstCensus in 1801 revealed that the population of Great Britain was 10.5 million.[22] England's population was 8.3 million, Wales' population was 0.6 million, and Scotland had a population of 1.6 million.[10] In Ireland, the population was between 4.5 and 5.5 million inhabitants.[23][24] Since 1801, a census has been conducted almost every decade. In Ireland, it was conducted for the first time in 1821.[10]
During theIndustrial Revolution, thedemographic transition started in the United Kingdom, going from a pre-industrial society demographically to an industrialised society. At the1841 Census, the population of England and Wales was 15.9 million,[10][25] having doubled in the space of 40 years. Ireland had 8.2 million[10][25][26] and Scotland had 2.6 million.[10][25] The slightly lower rate of growth for Scotland may be attributed to higher net emigration of Scottish people out of the nation, andtwo typhus epidemics in 1837 and 1847.[10]
Factors often associated with the beginning of the demographic transition began to change dramatically as well, which contributed to the rapid increase. For example,child mortality decreased dramatically: the proportion of children born in London who died before the age of five decreased from 74.5% in 1730–1749, to 31.8% in 1810–1829.[27] General mortality was thought to have declined as well, especially after 1850. This, as well as an increased birth rate, caused the English population to sustain itself[clarification needed] in the second phase of the transition from 1750 to 1870.[10]
In the second half of the 19th century thepopulation of England continued to grow quickly, from 16.8 million in 1851 to 30.5 million in 1901.[10] This rapid growth was seen in the other constituent nations. In Wales, the population increased from 0.6 million in 1801, to 2 million in 1901. In Scotland, the population increased from 1.6 million in 1801, to 4.5 million in 1901. In contrast, theGreat Irish Famine, which began in the 1840s, caused the deaths of 1 millionIrish people, and caused well over a million to emigrate.[10][28]
Mass emigration became entrenched as a result of the famine, and Ireland's population decreased rapidly, from 8.2 million in 1841 to 3.2 million in 1901.[10][29] This massive population collapse did not affectNorthern Ireland to the same extent, as it was more industrialised and urbanised. While the Northern Ireland population declined, it recovered by the beginning of the 20th century.[10] This prolonged period of emigration and net population decline in Irish history was not reversed until the middle of the 20th century.[29]
The total fertility rate of the UK population declined from 4.88 children per woman in 1871, to 2.4 by 1921, representing a transition to the third stage of the demographic transition.[10] Traditional means of birth control, such as abstinence and withdrawal, facilitated the collapse of the birth rate.[10] By the 1930s, this was hastened by more modern methods of contraception, which were beginning to gain increased acceptance.[10] From 1840 to 1930 there was a net emigration of English people out of the country, which scaled back population growth.[10]
During the first half of the 20th century, the United Kingdom began to approach the fourth stage of the demographic transition.[10] The deaths of troops in theFirst World War, coupled with the1918 influenza outbreak, are estimated to have totalled over 900,000 deaths in the United Kingdom.[10] This reduced the male population of theLost Generation and altered the sex ratio, which slowed the growth rate of the population.[10] By the end of theSecond World War, the fourth stage transition was completed. There was a low but fluctuating birth rate, a low death rate and a slower population growth rate.[10] TheBritish Nationality Act 1948 allowed many people from theBritish Empire's colonies to migrate to the country, being classed in nationality as the same as a native of the United Kingdom. This law, while an unintentional side-effect, led to the start ofmodern immigration to the United Kingdom.
In the 1960s, there was also major social change in the United Kingdom.[10] Liberalisation of society led to theAbortion Act 1967, which legalised abortion in the United Kingdom for the first time, and theDivorce Reform Act 1969, which made divorce easier.[10] Between these years, the population fluctuated: from the 1950s onwards the population increased through natural growth. By the mid-1970s, the population decreased due to emigration, which took net migration to a negative, and deaths exceeded births.[10][dubious –discuss] For the first time in 1973, the birth rate of the country fell belowreplacement level.[30] By the 1980s, the decline of population growth had recovered to an extent due to a reversal of net emigration.[10]
In the 1990s, international migration began to contribute more to population growth.[10] In 1998, this overtook natural increase as the main cause of growth.[10] Liberalisation of immigration rules under theBlair government allowed a rapid increase of the number of migrants arriving, quadrupling the number from a net migration rate of 50,000 a year, to 200,000 a year[when?].[31]
By the beginning of the 21st century, the population of the United Kingdom was 59,113,000 people. In each constituent nation, the population of England was 49,449,700, Scotland had a population of 5,064,200, Wales had a population of 2,910,200 and Northern Ireland a population of 1,689,300.[10] Increased international migration, which began to rapidly increase at the end of the 20th century brought increased ethnic heterogenization to the British population, in ethnicity and race, and country of birth.
In 2001, theWhite British population was registered to be 88.52% of the total population. In 2011, this proportion of the population had dropped to 81.88%. Other ethnic groups rose by 50% of their respective total population in 2001, or doubled entirely.
Such rapid immigration growth boosted population growth in the United Kingdom. In 2011, the population was around 63 million people.
The population of the UK in the last recorded census in2011 was 63 million, of whom 31 million were male and 32 million female. The 2011 census recorded the population of England as 53.0 million, Scotland as 5.3 million, Wales as 3.1 million, and Northern Ireland as 1.8 million.[32] At the last recorded population estimate, it was estimated that the UK population was at a total of 67,081,234 people.
There are 13 urban areas that exceed 500,000 inhabitants: they are centred on London,Birmingham,Glasgow,Leeds and Bradford,Southampton and Portsmouth,Sheffield,Liverpool,Leicester,Manchester,Belfast,Bristol,Newcastle-upon-Tyne andNottingham.[33]
| Constituent country | Population (mid-2024) | Area | Population density (per km2 (per mi2)) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numbers[34] | % of UK | (km2 (mi2))[35] | % of UK | ||
| England | 58,620,100 | 84.6% | 130,309 (50,313) | 53.7% | 434 (1,124) |
| Scotland | 5,546,900 | 8.0% | 77,911 (30,082) | 32.1% | 70 (181) |
| Wales | 3,186,600 | 4.6% | 20,736 (8,006) | 8.5% | 153 (396) |
| Northern Ireland | 1,927,900 | 2.8% | 13,793 (5,326) | 5.7% | 137 (355) |
| United Kingdom | 69,281,400 | 100% | 242,749 (93,726) | 100% | 274 (710) |
The following table shows the total UK population estimated atcensus dates. Pre 1901 figures include the whole of Ireland, whereas from 1901 onwards only the population of Northern Ireland is included.
| Intercensal period | Population at start of period | Average annual numbers of | Population density at start of period (per km2) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall change | Births | Deaths | Net natural change | Net migration etc. | |||
| 1851–1861 | 27,368,800 | 154,910 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 87 |
| 1861–1871 | 28,917,900 | 256,680 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 92 |
| 1871–1881 | 31,484,700 | 344,980 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 100 |
| 1881–1891 | 34,934,500 | 286,790 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 111 |
| 1891–1901 | 37,802,400 | 373,580 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | 120 |
| 1901–1911 | 38,237,000 | 385,000 | 1,091,000 | 624,000 | 467,000 | −82,000 | 156 |
| 1911–1921 | 42,082,000 | 195,000 | 975,000 | 689,000 | 286,000 | −92,000 | 172 |
| 1921–1931 | 44,027,000 | 201,000 | 824,000 | 555,000 | 268,000 | −67,000 | 180 |
| 1931–1951 | 46,038,000 | 213,000 | 793,000 | 603,000 | 190,000 | 22,000 | 188 |
| 1951–1961 | 50,225,000 | 258,000 | 839,000 | 593,000 | 246,000 | 12,000 | 205 |
| 1961–1971 | 52,807,000 | 312,000 | 962,000 | 638,000 | 324,000 | −12,000 | 216 |
| 1971–1981 | 55,928,000 | 42,000 | 736,000 | 666,000 | 69,000 | −27,000 | 229 |
| 1981–1991 | 56,357,000 | 108,000 | 757,000 | 655,000 | 103,000 | 5,000 | 231 |
| 1991–2001 | 57,439,000 | 161,000 | 731,000 | 631,000 | 100,000 | 61,000 | 235 |
| 2001–2011 | 59,113,000 | 324,000 | 722,000 | 588,000 | 134,000 | 191,000 | 242 |
| 2011–2021 | 63,182,000 | — | — | — | — | — | 259 |
Population density calculated on:
The UK government first began publishing population projections for the country in the 1920s under theGovernment Actuary's Department (GAD) which were mainly produced to be used for long-term financial estimates for pensions and other schemes of social insurance.[39] However, since the Second World War, population projections have taken an expanded role in all areas of influencing government policy. The GAD produced population projections every year from 1955 to 1979 and then switched it to every 2 years up to 1991. The Office for National Statistics took control of producing population projections for the country in 2006.[39]
The BritishOffice for National Statistics' 2016-based National Population Projections indicated that, if recent trends continue, the UK's population would increase by 3.6 million between mid-2016 and mid-2026. This represents an average annual growth rate of 0.5%. Over the same period, the population of England is projected to grow by 5.9%; for Wales, this figure is 3.1%, while for Scotland and Northern Ireland the figures are 3.2% and 4.2% respectively. These projections did not allow for any possible effects of the UKleaving the European Union.[40]
Since 1838 it has been compulsory to register a birth or death in the United Kingdom.[41]
Official data on thefertility rate of the country was first made available in 1938,[41] However, it is possible to estimate the total fertility rate (TFR) from 1541 onwards.[42]
The fertility rate of the United Kingdom before the 19th century remained at around 5 children per woman. This rate has been falling since 1870, when the country began into transition into the third stage of thedemographic transition.[43][41][30][44][45] This transition represents the change in reproductive strategy from how many children a mother 'needs' to how many she 'wants', and a substitution of quality over quantity in the offspring produced.[46][47] From the 1880s onwards, the birth rate began to decline rapidly from its previous levels.[47] In England the rate declined by 44% between 1875 and 1920.[47]
The decline has been attributed to a number of factors, including biological, technological, societalsocio-economic reasons and cultural trends.[44] TheIndustrial Revolution led to large scale movements of people to high density urban population centres; income per capita rose significantly especially in the last half of the 19th century, while economic growth improved the livelihoods of the working and middle classes. This growth in the standard of living led also reducedmortality rates (which had been in decline since the early 18th century) and especially ininfant mortality.[45][47][44] The decline ofchild labour at the same time meant there was less economic need for a large number of children.[45][47][44] Educational standards improved during the same time period, which gave children more economical potential.[44]
The increasing number of women in the workforce in the 19th century also contributed to the birth rate decline.[45][47][44]
Improvements in nutrition, which are linked to biological factors such as a decline in lactation, have also been cited as a potential factor in the decline of the fertility rate.[44] Technological developments also began to have an effect; contraceptives became more usable in the latter half of the 19th century due to developments in the production of rubber.[44] Abortion, while illegal, was also used, though the extent is unknown.[44]
A decline in religious adherence during the 19th century (despite a shortage of data) has also been considered as a reason.[44] While there is debate among demographers as to the relative importance of these factors, it is generally accepted that the combined effect was that mothers could begin to invest more time and nurture 'quality' into their offspring rather than having an increased 'quantity' of children, and that this led to the decrease of the total fertility rate.[46]
By 1914, the birthrate was around 2.88 children per woman, but by 1918 this had collapsed by almost 50%[48] due toWorld War One and sank to 2.03 children.[49][42] In thepost-World War One period, while the birthrate initially boomed reaching a peak of 3.08 children in 1920,[49] this was followed by a rapid decline and had slumped to historic lows by the 1930s, for the first time in the country's history falling below a replacement level fertility rate.[41][30] The rate did not recover until the end of theSecond World War in 1945.
In thepost-World War Two period, the fertility rate of the country boomed once again, reaching levels not seen since the late 19th century. This peaked in 1964, with a TFR of 2.95.[50][51] However, by 1973, the fertility rate of the country again dropped below replacement levels, and has continued to decline until the present day.[41]
It is said[30] that the sub-replacement level fertility rate is not viewed by the government as a major issue. Little incentive has been provided to increase the birth rate throughout the UK's post war period.[30] Compared to other countries in Western European, the United Kingdom's rate remains relatively high.[30]
Family planning policies were enacted during the 1970s as a result of the rapid population growth during the 1960s.[30] The1973 NHS Reorganisation Act is one example: this Act made family planning advice and supplies available to the public.[30] With previous liberalising acts such as theAbortion Act and theDivorce Reform Act, and scientific developments such as increased access to contraceptive methods such as thecontraceptive pill, it is generally accepted that these social changes contributed to the decline of the fertility rate below replacement level in the latter half of the 20th century.[30] With these changes also, pre-marital conceptions fell to 1950 levels by the late 1970s.[30] This decline in the birth rate follows a similar pattern to other European countries.[30]
The government's position was explained in 1984 at theUN Conference on Population in Mexico;
The United Kingdom government does not pursue a population policy in the sense of actively trying to influence the overall size of the population, its age structure, or the components of change except in the field of immigration. Nor has it expressed a view about the size of population, or the age structure, that would be desirable... The current level of births has not been the cause of general anxiety. The prevailing view is that decisions about fertility and childbearing are for people themselves to make, but that it is proper for government to provide individuals with the information and the means necessary to make their decisions effective. To this end, the government provides assistance with family planning as part of the National Health Service. The ageing of the population does raise social and economic issues. However, it is believed that these will prove manageable; and also, to a degree, that society will adapt...’[30]
In 2003, Right to Request was setup which allowed the parents of small children to request flexible working times which included shorter working hours for parents to care for their children.[30] However, a report in 2006 found that its impact was negligible as mothers tended to switch employers to get reduced hours regardless.[30]
Migration in the late 1990s and 2000s led to the overall total fertility rate of the country rising by 0.1% between 2004 and 2011.[30]
In 2012, the UK'stotal fertility rate (TFR) was 1.92 children per woman,[52] below thereplacement rate, which in the UK is 2.075.[53] In 2001, the TFR was at a record low of 1.63, but it then increased every year until it reached a peak of 1.96 in 2008, before decreasing again.[52] In 2012 and 2013, England and Wales's TFR decreased to 1.85.[52][54] In Scotland however TFR was lower: it decreased from 1.75 in 2010 to 1.67 in 2012.[52] Northern Ireland has the highest TFR in the UK, standing at 2.02 in 2010 and 2.03 in 2012.[52]
| Total fertility rate (TFR) from 1552 to 1899 | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Years[42] | |||||||||||||||||
| 1552 | 1556 | 1560 | 1565 | 1570 | 1575 | 1580 | 1590 | 1595 | 1600 | 1605 | 1610 | 1615 | 1620 | 1625 | 1630 | 1640 | 1650 |
| 5.12 | 4.78 | 4.7 | 5.31 | 4.64 | 4.48 | 4.62 | 4.25 | 4.47 | 4.63 | 4.79 | 4.47 | 4.51 | 4.78 | 4.35 | 4.45 | 4.71 | 3.49 |
| 1660 | 1665 | 1670 | 1675 | 1680 | 1690 | 1695 | 1700 | 1705 | 1710 | 1715 | 1720 | 1725 | 1730 | 1735 | 1740 | 1750 | 1755 |
| 3.83 | 4.1 | 3.97 | 3.75 | 3.97 | 4.29 | 4.37 | 4.39 | 4.37 | 3.79 | 4.25 | 4.16 | 4.51 | 4.28 | 4.94 | 4.58 | 4.73 | 4.64 |
| 1760 | 1765 | 1770 | 1775 | 1780 | 1785 | 1790 | 1795 | 1797 | 1799 | 1800 | 1801 | 1802 | 1803 | 1804 | 1805 | 1806 | 1807 |
| 4.56 | 4.81 | 4.98 | 4.96 | 4.9 | 5.09 | 5.35 | 5.21 | 5.4 | 5.11 | 4.97 | 4.6 | 5.3 | 5.61 | 5.65 | 5.55 | 5.49 | 5.45 |
| 1808 | 1809 | 1810 | 1811 | 1812 | 1813 | 1814 | 1815 | 1816 | 1817 | 1818 | 1819 | 1820 | 1821 | 1822 | 1823 | 1824 | 1825 |
| 5.4 | 5.24 | 5.36 | 5.43 | 5.31 | 5.45 | 5.46 | 6.02 | 5.73 | 5.69 | 5.54 | 5.45 | 5.4 | 5.55 | 5.69 | 5.54 | 5.42 | 5.38 |
| 1826 | 1827 | 1828 | 1829 | 1830 | 1831 | 1832 | 1833 | 1834 | 1835 | 1836 | 1837 | 1838 | 1839 | 1840 | 1841 | 1842 | 1843 |
| 5.36 | 5.07 | 5.23 | 4.85 | 4.83 | 4.78 | 4.78 | 5 | 4.89 | 4.83 | 4.86 | 4.79 | 4.78 | 4.93 | 4.9 | 4.89 | 4.83 | 4.82 |
| 1844 | 1845 | 1846 | 1847 | 1848 | 1849 | 1850 | 1851 | 1852 | 1853 | 1854 | 1855 | 1856 | 1857 | 1858 | 1859 | 1860 | 1861 |
| 4.83 | 4.75 | 4.9 | 4.58 | 4.71 | 4.78 | 4.85 | 4.94 | 4.94 | 4.78 | 4.89 | 4.85 | 4.94 | 4.9 | 4.79 | 4.97 | 4.86 | 4.88 |
| 1862 | 1863 | 1864 | 1865 | 1866 | 1867 | 1868 | 1869 | 1870 | 1871 | 1872 | 1873 | 1874 | 1875 | 1876 | 1877 | 1878 | 1879 |
| 4.92 | 4.94 | 4.96 | 4.94 | 4.92 | 4.94 | 4.97 | 4.82 | 4.88 | 4.85 | 4.89 | 4.94 | 4.93 | 4.92 | 4.9 | 4.89 | 4.88 | 4.81 |
| 1880 | 1881 | 1882 | 1883 | 1884 | 1885 | 1886 | 1887 | 1888 | 1889 | 1890 | 1891 | 1892 | 1893 | 1894 | 1895 | 1896 | 1897 |
| 4.75 | 4.68 | 4.62 | 4.55 | 4.47 | 4.39 | 4.32 | 4.24 | 4.16 | 4.11 | 4.06 | 4 | 3.95 | 3.9 | 3.84 | 3.79 | 3.73 | 3.68 |
| 1898 | 1899 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3.62 | 3.58 | ||||||||||||||||
The first available data on when a mother gives birth for the first time was in 1920.[41]
The reduction of the total fertility rate of the United Kingdom has also had an effect on the mean age in which a mother gives birth to her first child.[50]
The age in which a mother gives birth to her first child has changed depending on the time period, but since the 1970s the age in which someone gives birth has been trending upwards.[50]
| Year | Mean age of childbearing |
|---|---|
| 1920 | 25.6 |
| 1941 | 23.8 |
| 1959 | 25.7 |
| 1960 | 27.8 |
| 1965 | 27.1 |
| 1970 | 26.3 |
| 1975 | 26.5 |
| 1980 | 26.9 |
| 1985 | 27.3 |
| 1990 | 27.7 |
| 2018 | 29 |
The reduction of the fertility rate has also had an effect on the general family size of mothers in the United Kingdom, with the two being interlinked with each other.[50] The family size of the average UK family can be estimated for a "completed family size" (CFS), which is an estimate of the amount of children a woman has birthed by the end of her childbearing years.[41]
Family size within the UK has shifted towards two or one children in recent decades, rather than in the past when larger family sizes were more prominent and sought after.[50] This pattern is similar to other European countries, where couples are having fewer children.[50] Increasingly, there are also more couples who are completely childless; this has been increasing since the 1950s.[50][55]
| No. of children | Years | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 1925 | 1930 | 1935 | 1940 | 1945 | 1950 | 1955 | 1960 | |
| 0 | 21 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 21 |
| 1 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| 2 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 37 | 43 | 43 | 40 | 35 |
| 3 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 |
| 4 or more | 15 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Average family size (Completed family size of all women) | 2 | 2.12 | 2.35 | 2.42 | 2.36 | 2.17 | 2.03 | 2.02 | 1.95 |
Life expectancy has increased in the United Kingdom since the 18th century due to precipitate declines in child mortality, see below, and from relatively minor improvements in healthcare. A life expectancy of 40, the historical norm, does not mean that person is likely to die at 40 years old but rather when he or she is very old or very young; much in line with abathtub curve.
At the start of the 20th century, the life expectancy at birth was only 45.6 years.[56]
By 1950, life expectancy at birth had risen to 68.6 years.[56] During the latter half of the century, further factors influenced the increase of life expectancy: diseases and the improvement of healthcare in the 1950s, decline in smoking in the mid-1970s and improvements in treating heart disease in the 1990s contributed to its decline.[57]
At the start of the 21st century, the life expectancy at birth was 77.8 years.[56]
In 2011 the life expectancy at birth of the UK was around 80.4 years,[56] but the rate of increase has been stalling.[57][58][59] Potential factors behind this may be austerity measures imposed in the beginning of the 2010s,[59][60] which coincidentally since then mortality rates have slowed down in decline[61] or older people dying off at faster rates than expected.[61] On the topic of austerity measures, Professor Richard Faragher has said that "It is possible to have high or rising life expectancy during austerity, as is the case in Japan. Similarly, you can have rising life expectancy despite high levels of inequality – this was the case in Britain from 1900–1950."[61] but noted that austerity measures to social services like theNHS, especially social care support for the elderly may be causing a stalling of life expectancy increase due to a decreased quality of life for older generations.[59][61]
| Life expectancy from 1543 to 2015 | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Years[62][56] | |||||||||||||||||
| 1543 | 1548 | 1553 | 1558 | 1563 | 1568 | 1573 | 1578 | 1583 | 1588 | 1593 | 1603 | 1608 | 1613 | 1618 | 1623 | 1628 | 1633 |
| 33.9 | 38.8 | 39.6 | 22.4 | 36.7 | 39.7 | 41.1 | 41.6 | 42.7 | 37.1 | 38.1 | 38.5 | 39.6 | 36.8 | 40.3 | 33.4 | 39.7 | 39.7 |
| 1638 | 1643 | 1648 | 1653 | 1658 | 1663 | 1668 | 1673 | 1678 | 1683 | 1688 | 1693 | 1698 | 1703 | 1713 | 1718 | 1723 | 1728 |
| 34.0 | 36.3 | 39.7 | 39.1 | 33.0 | 33.3 | 33.5 | 37.4 | 32.4 | 31.3 | 35.9 | 36.5 | 38.1 | 38.5 | 36.9 | 35.8 | 35.5 | 25.3 |
| 1733 | 1738 | 1743 | 1748 | 1753 | 1758 | 1763 | 1768 | 1773 | 1778 | 1783 | 1788 | 1793 | 1798 | 1803 | 1808 | 1813 | 1818 |
| 36.3 | 35.3 | 34.3 | 36.5 | 39.8 | 38.1 | 35.4 | 36.2 | 39.1 | 37.7 | 35.8 | 39.0 | 37.9 | 38.9 | 40.0 | 40.6 | 41.3 | 40.8 |
| 1823 | 1828 | 1833 | 1838 | 1842 | 1843 | 1844 | 1845 | 1846 | 1847 | 1848 | 1849 | 1850 | 1851 | 1852 | 1853 | 1854 | 1855 |
| 40.5 | 41.4 | 40.9 | 40.6 | 41.0 | 41.6 | 41.2 | 42.2 | 40.2 | 38.5 | 39.9 | 37.7 | 42.8 | 41.0 | 40.4 | 40.0 | 39.5 | 40.7 |
| 1856 | 1857 | 1858 | 1859 | 1860 | 1861 | 1862 | 1863 | 1864 | 1865 | 1866 | 1867 | 1868 | 1869 | 1870 | 1871 | 1872 | 1873 |
| 42.5 | 40.9 | 39.5 | 40.4 | 41.9 | 41.6 | 42.1 | 40.4 | 39.6 | 39.8 | 40.1 | 42.0 | 41.7 | 41.3 | 40.6 | 41.1 | 42.7 | 43.3 |
| 1874 | 1875 | 1876 | 1877 | 1878 | 1879 | 1880 | 1881 | 1882 | 1883 | 1884 | 1885 | 1886 | 1887 | 1888 | 1889 | 1890 | 1891 |
| 42.1 | 41.5 | 42.7 | 43.7 | 42.0 | 43.5 | 43.0 | 45.1 | 44.0 | 44.0 | 43.6 | 44.6 | 44.6 | 45.1 | 46.3 | 45.9 | 44.1 | 44.4 |
| 1892 | 1893 | 1894 | 1895 | 1896 | 1897 | 1898 | 1899 | 1900 | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 | 1904 | 1905 | 1906 | 1907 | 1908 | 1909 |
| 45.6 | 44.7 | 48.3 | 45.4 | 47.1 | 46.4 | 46.1 | 45.2 | 45.6 | 46.9 | 48.3 | 49.5 | 48.1 | 49.9 | 49.6 | 50.6 | 51.0 | 51.7 |
| 1910 | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 | 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919 | 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 |
| 53.3 | 51.2 | 54.3 | 53.4 | 53.2 | 51.2 | 54.2 | 54.2 | 47.3 | 54.3 | 57.3 | 58.1 | 57.0 | 59.3 | 58.1 | 58.4 | 59.6 | 59.0 |
| 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 |
| 59.9 | 57.6 | 60.8 | 60.0 | 60.5 | 60.6 | 61.3 | 62.0 | 61.8 | 62.3 | 63.2 | 63.6 | 60.9 | 61.4 | 64.0 | 64.0 | 64.8 | 65.8 |
| 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | |||||||||||||
| 66.3 | 66.3 | 68.4 | 68.1 | 68.6 | |||||||||||||
| 1950–55 | 1955–60 | 1960–65 | 1965–70 | 1970–75 | 1975–80 | ||||||||||||
| 69.4 | 70.6 | 71.0 | 71.7 | 72.3 | 73.0 | ||||||||||||
| 1980–85 | 1985–90 | 1990–95 | 1995–2000 | 2000–05 | 2005–10 | ||||||||||||
| 74.2 | 75.1 | 76.3 | 77.2 | 78.4 | 79.7 | ||||||||||||
| 2010–15 | |||||||||||||||||
| 81.0 | |||||||||||||||||
Infant mortality has been on the decline since the Second Industrial Revolution, although the majority of the decline came around from the start to the end of the 20th century.[63][64][65][66] In raw terms for example, infant mortality in England sat around 151 deaths to 1000 live births in 1901 but by the end of the century it had plummeted down to only 6 deaths per 1000 births.[64]
There are two general lines of thought which are usually taken from into analysing the decline of infant mortality rates, the first line of thought comes from social historians, who ascribe the decline of infant mortality to social phenomenons of the time such as the need for a healthy population for the sake of the nation's fighting capabilities and political issues surrounding women.[63] The second line of thought comes from demographers themselves which more or less ascribe the decline of infant mortality itself more to the general decline of mortality altogether in the society than any particular reason why.[63]
Physical unfitness during theBoer War came into national prominence as many recruits came back to be too medically unfit for service.[66][65] With this, In 1904, theReport of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Physical Deterioration was published[67][65][66] which listed large amounts of details of the failings of the British population, and for that matter government, in sustaining a healthy population.
The current rate of infant mortality in the United Kingdom is roughly around 3.82 deaths per 1,000 live births.[5]
Interlinked withfertility andmortality, The age structure of the United Kingdom has varied with how rates of fertility and mortality have changed throughout the country's history. Due to the transition to anindustrialised society, the United Kingdom has also undergone a 'demographic transition': that is to say, that it has gone from a high birth rate, high mortality rate society to a low birth rate, low mortality rate society over the space of two centuries.
Before the 18th century, the United Kingdom retained an age structure universal to societies in the first stage of the transition theory, with high fertility rates and high mortality rates,[10] in the late 18th century, theIndustrial Revolution began, kickstarting the country's transition into the second phase: mortality rates declined but birth rates stayed at the same level;[10] by 1870, the country had begun to transition into the third phase:[10] the birth rate began to decline from around near 5 children per woman to below replacement level in the 1930s.[10] The fourth phase of the transition began in the 1960s, when the fertility rate rose, and peaked during the middle of the decade, and then collapsed by 1973 to a below replacement level rate. Since then, the rate has not risen to an above replacement level fertility rate; this has resulted in a population which is currently ageing:[10] in 2007, for the first time in the country's history, there were more people over the age of 60 than there were under the age of 16.[68]
Peaks and bands within the population represent different periods in which people were born, for example, a large peak of people in particularly for those aged 70–74 born following theSecond World War and a wide band for those aged 50–59, born during the 1960s baby boom. Those aged 80 upwards would have been born in the 1930s baby dearth when the birth rate was below replacement level. On the younger band of the population there is a noticeable gap between the ages of 14 and 20, this due to at the beginning of the 21st century a lower number of children being born (and a subsequent lower TFR), however in the years following the birth rate rose during the 2010s and a 'broadening' of the pyramid began for those in the younger years leading to more children in those age cohorts. In relation to the sex ratio of the country, in the higher ages of the population, there are more women than men reflecting the higher life expectancies of women in the population, in the lower ages there are more men than women because there are slightly more boys than girls born each year.[69][70] In relation to the older age brackets, In 2015, there were estimated to be over half a million people (556,270) aged 90 and over living in the UK, up from 194,670 people in 1985,[71] and there were estimated to be 14,570centenarians (people aged 100 or over) and 850 people aged 105 or over.[72] TheOffice for National Statistics has also wrote in their mid-2016 report on population projections that the median age of the British population was 40 years of age,[73] and this will continue to rise as more people in the population age and a below-replacement level fertility level not refilling the population. This will make the number of people aged 85 and over double from 1.6 million in mid-2016 to 3.2 million in mid-2041.[74]
The demographic ageing of the population is not evenly spread geographically, as people in rural areas are typically of a higher age than those living in metropolitan areas such asGreater London for example.[68]
England (2020 estimate)
Scotland (2020 estimate)
Wales (2020 estimate)
| Ages | 1976 | 1986 | 1999 | 2016 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–15 years (%) | 24.5 | 20.5 | 20.4 | 18.9 | 19.0 |
| 16–64 years (%) | 61.2 | 64.1 | 63.8 | 63.1 | 62.5 |
| 65 years and over (%) | 14.2 | 15.4 | 15.8 | 18.0 | 18.5 |
| Median age | 1950 | 1960 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | 2030 | 2040 | 2050 | 2060 | 2070 | 2080 | 2090 | 2100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 34.9 | 35.6 | 34.1 | 34.5 | 35.8 | 37.6 | 39.6 | 40.6 | 42.4 | 43.8 | 43.9 | 44.7 | 45.5 | 46.0 | 46.7 | 47.7 |
| Male | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 39.6 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Female | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 41.7 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
The United Kingdom is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe; in 2020 it was the 8th most densely populated country.[78]
The current largest urban areas are listed below:
| Rank | Urban area | Pop. | Principal settlement | Rank | Urban area | Pop. | Principal settlement | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greater London | 9,787,426 | London | 11 | Bristol | 617,280 | Bristol | ||
| 2 | Greater Manchester | 2,553,379 | Manchester | 12 | Edinburgh | 512,150 | Edinburgh | ||
| 3 | West Midlands | 2,440,986 | Birmingham | 13 | Leicester | 508,916 | Leicester | ||
| 4 | West Yorkshire | 1,777,934 | Leeds | 14 | Belfast | 483,418 | Belfast | ||
| 5 | Greater Glasgow | 985,290 | Glasgow | 15 | Brighton & Hove | 474,485 | Brighton | ||
| 6 | Liverpool | 864,122 | Liverpool | 16 | South East Dorset | 466,266 | Bournemouth | ||
| 7 | South Hampshire | 855,569 | Southampton | 17 | Cardiff | 390,214 | Cardiff | ||
| 8 | Tyneside | 774,891 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 18 | Teesside | 376,633 | Middlesbrough | ||
| 9 | Nottingham | 729,977 | Nottingham | 19 | Stoke-on-Trent | 372,775 | Stoke-on-Trent | ||
| 10 | Sheffield | 685,368 | Sheffield | 20 | Coventry | 359,262 | Coventry | ||
Rapid urbanisation began with the onset of theIndustrial Revolution in the mid to late 18th century, shifting jobs and more importantly people away from rural Britain's dominance at the time which was primarily agricultural, to manufacturing jobs within urban areas which started to spring up.[82] In 1750, an estimated total of around only 1 million people lived in some sort of urban area such as a town or city,[83] which was around 1/6th of the estimated total population but a century later this had risen to 8 million people in 1850,[83] equating to just over half of the nation.[82][83]
While this mass urbanisation affected pre-existing cities to a large degree such as London, smaller and 'newer' towns were in particular effected by the re-distribution of the population and exploded in raw population growth.[82] Cities such asBirmingham, Bristol,Edinburgh, Glasgow,Liverpool, Manchester,Leeds,Sheffield andNewcastle for example had an explosive expansion in population numbers around the middle of the 19th century due to the industrial expansion of said cities bringing jobs and again people in for work.[84][83] London during the19th century become noted as the 'premier city' of the world, being the most populated city from 1825 to 1900[85] and being the first city in Europe and one of the first in the world to reach the figure of one million inhabitants,[86] and then 5 million inhabitants.[85] This urbanisation in the 19th century has had two phases.[82] This mass influx of the population into the cities resulted in a centralisation of the population into the inner city areas however by the time of the late 19th century and early 20th century when technological advancements in transport kicked off allowing cities to expand their 'peripherals' from the inner areas to create large scale 'city regions' of their own.[82] London in particular during the 19th century had the majority of its population within the city living in the inner centre, however by the 20th century a massive expansion of 'Outer London' began which slowly became larger in population size by the middle of the century thanInner London.
By the end of the 20th century the figure of urbanisation was 80% of the country.[82] Importance in population size however of the capital declined during the latter half of the 20th century. By the end of the 20th century, London's ranking on the most populated cities of the world had fallen down to not even being in the top 20.[86]
The current classification of an 'urban' area, also termed as a 'built-up area' (BUA)[87] in the 2011 census, is a settlement which takes variables from both numerical population numbers and population density; in population numbers this is roughly more than or 10,000 people living in an area.[88][89] Anything below that is classified as 'rural', having several levels of distinction to define a rural town and fringe, village or hamlet which is usually taken from population density figures.[89] These areas are then defined within 'output areas' (OA's) themselves, which are geographic areas of the United Kingdom.[89][87] The population which resides within classified 'urban' areas was 84.4% of total population in 2022 and the annual rate of urbanisation change is estimated to be around 0.8% between 2020 and 2025.[5]
Notable events in British demographics:
| Average population (Mid-year)[93] | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000)[94] | Crude death rate (per 1000)[94] | Natural change (per 1000) | Crude migration change (per 1000) | Total Fertility Rate[c][42][5][95][96] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1838 | 15,287,699 | 463,787 | 342,760 | 121,027 | 30.34 | 22.42 | 7.92 | 4.78 | |
| 1839 | 15,514,255 | 492,574 | 338,984 | 153,590 | 31.74 | 21.85 | 9.89 | 4.7 | 4.93 |
| 1840 | 15,730,813 | 502,303 | 359,687 | 142,616 | 31.93 | 22.86 | 9.07 | 4.7 | 4.85 |
| 1841 | 15,929,492 | 512,158 | 343,847 | 168,311 | 32.15 | 21.59 | 10.56 | 1.9 | 4.89 |
| 1842 | 16,130,326 | 517,739 | 349,519 | 168,220 | 32.11 | 21.67 | 10.44 | 2 | 4.83 |
| 1843 | 16,332,228 | 527,325 | 346,445 | 180,880 | 32.26 | 21.21 | 11.05 | 1.3 | 4.82 |
| 1844 | 16,535,174 | 540,763 | 356,933 | 183,830 | 32.70 | 21.59 | 11.11 | 1.2 | 4.83 |
| 1845 | 16,739,136 | 543,521 | 349,366 | 194,155 | 32.47 | 20.87 | 11.60 | 0.6 | 4.82 |
| 1846 | 16,944,092 | 572,625 | 390,315 | 182,310 | 33.79 | 23.03 | 10.76 | 1.3 | 4.90 |
| 1847 | 17,150,018 | 539,965 | 423,304 | 116,661 | 31.48 | 24.68 | 6.80 | 5.2 | 4.58 |
| 1848 | 17,356,882 | 563,059 | 399,833 | 163,226 | 32.44 | 23.04 | 9.40 | 2.5 | 4.71 |
| 1849 | 17,564,656 | 578,159 | 440,839 | 137,320 | 32.92 | 25.10 | 7.82 | 4 | 4.78 |
| 1850 | 17,773,324 | 593,422 | 368,995 | 224,427 | 33.40 | 20.76 | 12.64 | −0.9 | 4.76 |
| 1851 | 17,982,849 | 615,865 | 395,396 | 220,469 | 34.26 | 21.99 | 12.27 | −0.6 | 4.94 |
| 1852 | 18,193,206 | 624,012 | 407,135 | 216,877 | 34.30 | 22.38 | 11.92 | −0.4 | 4.94 |
| 1853 | 18,404,368 | 612,391 | 421,097 | 191,294 | 33.27 | 22.88 | 10.39 | 1.1 | 4.78 |
| 1854 | 18,616,310 | 634,405 | 437,905 | 196,500 | 34.08 | 23.52 | 10.56 | 0.8 | 4.89 |
| 1855 | 18,829,000 | 635,043 | 425,703 | 209,340 | 33.73 | 22.61 | 11.12 | 0.2 | 4.88 |
| 1856 | 19,043,412 | 657,453 | 390,506 | 266,947 | 34.54 | 20.51 | 14.03 | −2.8 | 4.94 |
| 1857 | 19,256,516 | 663,071 | 419,815 | 243,256 | 34.44 | 21.80 | 12.64 | −1.6 | 4.90 |
| 1858 | 19,471,291 | 655,481 | 449,656 | 205,825 | 33.66 | 23.09 | 10.57 | 0.5 | 4.79 |
| 1859 | 19,686,701 | 689,881 | 440,781 | 249,100 | 35.04 | 22.39 | 12.65 | −1.7 | 4.97 |
| 1860 | 19,902,713 | 684,048 | 422,721 | 261,327 | 34.38 | 21.24 | 13.14 | −2.3 | 4.89 |
| 1861 | 20,119,314 | 696,406 | 435,114 | 261,292 | 34.61 | 21.63 | 12.98 | −2.2 | 4.88 |
| 1862 | 20,371,013 | 712,684 | 436,566 | 276,118 | 34.99 | 21.43 | 13.56 | −1.2 | 4.92 |
| 1863 | 20,625,855 | 727,417 | 473,837 | 253,580 | 35.28 | 22.97 | 12.31 | 0.1 | 4.94 |
| 1864 | 20,883,889 | 740,275 | 495,531 | 244,744 | 35.44 | 23.73 | 11.71 | 0.6 | 4.96 |
| 1865 | 21,145,151 | 748,069 | 490,909 | 257,160 | 35.39 | 23.22 | 12.17 | 0.2 | 4.93 |
| 1866 | 21,409,684 | 753,870 | 500,689 | 253,181 | 35.22 | 23.39 | 11.83 | 0.5 | 4.92 |
| 1867 | 21,677,525 | 768,349 | 471,073 | 297,276 | 35.45 | 21.73 | 13.72 | −1.4 | 4.94 |
| 1868 | 21,948,713 | 786,858 | 480,622 | 306,236 | 35.85 | 21.90 | 13.95 | −1.6 | 4.97 |
| 1869 | 22,223,299 | 773,381 | 494,828 | 278,553 | 34.82 | 22.27 | 12.55 | −0.2 | 4.82 |
| 1870 | 22,501,316 | 792,787 | 514,902 | 277,885 | 35.24 | 22.88 | 12.36 | −0.0 | 4.91 |
| 1871 | 22,788,466 | 797,428 | 514,879 | 282,549 | 35.00 | 22.59 | 12.41 | 0.2 | 4.85 |
| 1872 | 23,096,500 | 825,907 | 492,265 | 333,642 | 35.76 | 21.32 | 14.44 | −1.1 | 4.89 |
| 1873 | 23,408,600 | 829,778 | 492,520 | 337,258 | 35.44 | 21.04 | 14.40 | −1.1 | 4.94 |
| 1874 | 23,724,800 | 854,956 | 526,632 | 328,324 | 36.04 | 22.20 | 13.84 | −0.5 | 4.93 |
| 1875 | 24,045,400 | 850,607 | 546,453 | 304,154 | 35.38 | 22.73 | 12.65 | 0.7 | 4.91 |
| 1876 | 24,370,300 | 887,968 | 510,315 | 377,653 | 36.45 | 20.94 | 15.51 | −2.2 | 4.90 |
| 1877 | 24,699,500 | 888,200 | 500,496 | 387,704 | 35.96 | 20.26 | 15.70 | −2.4 | 4.89 |
| 1878 | 25,033,300 | 891,906 | 539,872 | 352,034 | 35.62 | 21.56 | 14.06 | −0.7 | 4.88 |
| 1879 | 25,371,500 | 880,389 | 526,255 | 354,134 | 34.71 | 20.74 | 13.97 | −0.6 | 4.81 |
| 1880 | 25,714,300 | 881,643 | 528,624 | 353,019 | 34.29 | 20.56 | 13.73 | −0.4 | 4.85 |
| 1881 | 26,046,100 | 883,642 | 491,935 | 391,707 | 33.92 | 18.89 | 15.03 | −2.3 | 4.68 |
| 1882 | 26,334,900 | 889,014 | 516,654 | 372,360 | 33.75 | 19.62 | 14.13 | −3.2 | 4.62 |
| 1883 | 26,626,900 | 890,722 | 522,997 | 367,725 | 33.45 | 19.64 | 13.81 | −2.8 | 4.55 |
| 1884 | 26,922,200 | 906,750 | 530,828 | 375,922 | 33.68 | 19.72 | 13.96 | −3.0 | 4.47 |
| 1885 | 27,220,700 | 894,270 | 522,750 | 371,520 | 32.86 | 19.20 | 13.66 | −2.7 | 4.54 |
| 1886 | 27,522,500 | 903,760 | 537,276 | 366,484 | 32.83 | 19.52 | 13.31 | −2.4 | 4.42 |
| 1887 | 36,599,100 | 1,041,937 | 629,287 | 412,650 | 31.9 | 19.1 | 11.3 | 4.24 | |
| 1888 | 36,881,300 | 1,034,144 | 605,899 | 428,245 | 31.2 | 18.1 | 11.6 | −4 | 4.16 |
| 1889 | 37,178,900 | 1,039,166 | 615,033 | 424,133 | 31.1 | 18.2 | 11.4 | −3.4 | 4.11 |
| 1890 | 37,484,800 | 1,021,361 | 665,758 | 355,603 | 30.2 | 19.5 | 9.5 | -1.3 | 4.06 |
| 1891 | 37,802,400 | 1,071,382 | 696,490 | 374,892 | 31.4 | 20.2 | 9.9 | −1.5 | 4.00 |
| 1892 | 38,134,100 | 1,053,205 | 661,273 | 391,932 | 30.4 | 19.0 | 10.3 | −1.6 | 3.95 |
| 1893 | 38,490,300 | 1,073,011 | 673,722 | 399,289 | 30.7 | 19.2 | 10.4 | −1.1 | 3.90 |
| 1894 | 38,859,100 | 1,045,631 | 593,808 | 451,823 | 29.6 | 16.6 | 11.6 | −2.1 | 3.84 |
| 1895 | 39,221,100 | 1,080,527 | 676,110 | 404,417 | 30.3 | 18.7 | 10.3 | −1.1 | 3.79 |
| 1896 | 39,599,100 | 1,076,812 | 620,108 | 456,704 | 29.6 | 17.1 | 11.5 | −2 | 3.73 |
| 1897 | 39,987,300 | 1,082,889 | 645,630 | 437,259 | 31.9 | 19.1 | 10.9 | −1.2 | 3.68 |
| 1898 | 40,380,800 | 1,086,212 | 654,812 | 431,400 | 29.3 | 17.5 | 10.6 | -0.9 | 3.62 |
| 1899 | 40,774,300 | 1,091,106 | 685,510 | 405,596 | 29.1 | 18.2 | 9.9 | −0.3 | 3.58 |
| 1900 | 41,154,600 | 1,089,487 | 695,867 | 393,620 | 26.5 | 16.9 | 9.6 | −0.3 | 3.53 |
| 1901 | 41,538,200 | 1,092,781 | 655,646 | 437,135 | 26.3 | 15.8 | 10.5 | −1.3 | 3.49 |
| 1902 | 41,892,700 | 1,103,483 | 636,650 | 466,833 | 26.3 | 15.2 | 11.1 | −2.7 | 3.44 |
| 1903 | 42,246,600 | 1,113,086 | 613,726 | 499,360 | 26.3 | 14.5 | 11.8 | −3.4 | 3.40 |
| 1904 | 42,611,400 | 1,109,542 | 651,301 | 458,241 | 26 | 15.3 | 10.8 | −2.2 | 3.35 |
| 1905 | 42,980,800 | 1,092,108 | 617,516 | 474,592 | 25.4 | 14.4 | 11 | −2.4 | 3.30 |
| 1906 | 43,361,100 | 1,098,475 | 629,955 | 468,520 | 25.3 | 14.5 | 10.8 | −2.0 | 3.24 |
| 1907 | 43,737,800 | 1,077,851 | 625,271 | 452,580 | 24.6 | 14.3 | 10.3 | −1.7 | 3.19 |
| 1908 | 44,123,800 | 1,102,345 | 621,427 | 480,918 | 25 | 14.1 | 10.9 | −2.2 | 3.14 |
| 1909 | 44,519,500 | 1,073,781 | 614,910 | 458,871 | 24.1 | 13.8 | 10.3 | −1.4 | 3.07 |
| 1910 | 44,915,900 | 1,051,240 | 578,091 | 473,149 | 23.4 | 12.9 | 10.5 | −1.7 | 2.99 |
| 1911 | 42,189,800 | 1,033,395 | 620,828 | 412,567 | 24.5 | 14.7 | 9.8 | −74.4 | 2.92 |
| 1912 | 42,373,600 | 1,025,828 | 580,977 | 444,851 | 24.2 | 13.7 | 10.5 | −6.2 | 2.90 |
| 1913 | 42,582,300 | 1,032,286 | 600,554 | 431,732 | 24.2 | 14.1 | 10.1 | −5.2 | 2.93 |
| 1914 | 42,956,900 | 1,032,734 | 611,970 | 420,764 | 24 | 14.2 | 9.8 | −1.1 | 2.88 |
| 1915 | 41,361,500 | 956,877 | 666,322 | 290,555 | 23.1 | 16.1 | 7 | −45.6 | 2.59 |
| 1916 | 40,536,300 | 922,085 | 599,621 | 322,464 | 22.7 | 14.8 | 8 | −28.3 | 2.60 |
| 1917 | 39,780,700 | 790,736 | 589,416 | 201,320 | 19.9 | 14.8 | 5.1 | −24.1 | 2.10 |
| 1918 | 39,582,000 | 787,427 | 715,246 | 72,181 | 19.9 | 18.1 | 1.8 | −6.8 | 2.03 |
| 1919 | 42,944,100 | 826,202 | 602,188 | 224,014 | 19.2 | 18.1 | 5.2 | 73.1 | 2.31 |
| 1920 | 43,646,400 | 1,126,849 | 555,326 | 571,523 | 19.2 | 14 | 13.1 | 3 | 3.08 |
| 1921 | 43,904,100 | 1,001,725 | 544,140 | 457,585 | 22.8 | 12.4 | 10.4 | −4.6 | 2.69 |
| 1922 | 44,331,500 | 924,740 | 579,480 | 345,260 | 20.9 | 13.1 | 7.8 | 1.9 | 2.44 |
| 1923 | 44,563,100 | 900,130 | 526,858 | 373,272 | 20.2 | 11.8 | 8.4 | −3.2 | 2.38 |
| 1924 | 44,885,600 | 865,329 | 563,891 | 301,438 | 19.3 | 12.6 | 6.7 | 0.5 | 2.28 |
| 1925 | 45,040,000 | 842,405 | 558,132 | 284,273 | 18.7 | 12.4 | 6.3 | −2.9 | 2.20 |
| 1926 | 45,217,600 | 825,174 | 536,411 | 288,763 | 18.2 | 11.9 | 6.4 | −2.5 | 2.15 |
| 1927 | 45,432,000 | 777,520 | 568,655 | 208,865 | 17.1 | 12.5 | 4.6 | 0.1 | 2.01 |
| 1928 | 45,622,200 | 783,052 | 543,664 | 239,388 | 17.2 | 11.9 | 5.2 | −1.1 | 2.01 |
| 1929 | 45,731,000 | 761,963 | 623,231 | 138,732 | 16.7 | 13.6 | 3 | −0.7 | 1.95 |
| 1930 | 45,888,900 | 769,239 | 536,860 | 232,379 | 16.8 | 11.7 | 5.1 | −1.6 | 1.95 |
| 1931 | 46,073,600 | 749,974 | 573,908 | 176,066 | 16.3 | 12.5 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 1.89 |
| 1932 | 46,335,000 | 730,079 | 567,986 | 162,093 | 15.8 | 12.3 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 1.83 |
| 1933 | 46,520,000 | 691,560 | 579,467 | 112,093 | 14.9 | 12.5 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 1.72 |
| 1934 | 46,666,000 | 711,483 | 558,072 | 153,411 | 15.2 | 12 | 3.3 | −0.2 | 1.76 |
| 1935 | 46,869,500 | 711,426 | 561,324 | 150,102 | 15.2 | 12 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 1.75 |
| 1936 | 47,081,300 | 720,129 | 580,942 | 139,187 | 15.3 | 12.3 | 3 | 1.5 | 1.77 |
| 1937 | 47,288,600 | 723,779 | 597,798 | 125,981 | 15.3 | 12.6 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 1.79 |
| 1938 | 47,494,100 | 735,573 | 559,598 | 175,975 | 15.5 | 11.8 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 1.84 |
| 1939 | 47,547,700 | 726,632 | 581,857 | 144,775 | 15.3 | 12.2 | 3.0 | −1.9 | 1.84 |
| 1940 | 46,026,200 | 701,875 | 673,253 | 28,622 | 15.2 | 14.6 | 0.6 | −33.7 | 1.74 |
| 1941 | 44,870,400 | 695,726 | 627,378 | 68,348 | 15.5 | 14.0 | 1.5 | −27.3 | 1.72 |
| 1942 | 44,323,000 | 771,851 | 562,356 | 209,495 | 17.4 | 12.7 | 4.7 | −17.1 | 1.93 |
| 1943 | 48,261,000 | 810,524 | 585,582 | 224,942 | 16.8 | 12.1 | 3.7 | 76.9 | 2.03 |
| 1944 | 48,261,600 | 878,298 | 573,570 | 303,728 | 18.2 | 11.9 | 6.3 | -17 | 2.25 |
| 1945 | 48,668,900 | 795,868 | 567,027 | 228,841 | 16.4 | 11.7 | 4.7 | 3.7 | 2.05 |
| 1946 | 48,987,800 | 955,266 | 573,361 | 381,905 | 19.5 | 11.7 | 7.8 | −1.3 | 2.47 |
| 1947 | 49,538,700 | 1,025,427 | 600,728[97] | 424,699 | 20.7 | 12.1 | 8.6 | 2.5 | 2.69 |
| 1948 | 50,033,200 | 905,182 | 546,002 | 359,180 | 18.1 | 10.9 | 7.2 | 2.7 | 2.39 |
| 1949 | 50,331,000 | 855,298 | 589,876 | 265,422 | 17 | 11.7 | 5.3 | 0.6 | 2.26 |
| 1950 | 50,381,500[98] | 818,421 | 590,136 | 228,285 | 16.2 | 11.7 | 4.5 | −3.5 | 2.08 |
| 1951 | 50,286,900 | 796,645 | 632,786 | 163,859 | 15.8 | 12.6 | 3.3 | −5.1 | 2.10 |
| 1952 | 50,429,200 | 792,917 | 573,806 | 219,111 | 15.7 | 11.4 | 4.3 | −1.5 | 2.15 |
| 1953 | 50,592,900 | 804,269 | 577,220 | 227,049 | 15.9 | 11.4 | 4.5 | −1.3 | 2.20 |
| 1954 | 50,764,900 | 794,769 | 578,400 | 216,369 | 15.7 | 11.4 | 4.3 | −0.9 | 2.26 |
| 1955 | 50,946,100 | 789,315 | 595,916 | 193,399 | 15.5 | 11.7 | 3.8 | −0.2 | 2.33 |
| 1956 | 51,183,500 | 825,137 | 597,981 | 227,156 | 16.1 | 11.7 | 4.4 | 0.2 | 2.40 |
| 1957 | 51,430,200 | 851,466 | 591,200 | 260,266 | 16.6 | 11.5 | 5.1 | −0.3 | 2.48 |
| 1958 | 51,652,500 | 870,497 | 604,040 | 266,457 | 16.9 | 11.7 | 5.2 | −0.9 | 2.55 |
| 1959 | 51,956,300 | 878,561 | 606,115 | 272,446 | 16.9 | 11.7 | 5.2 | 0.6 | 2.63 |
| 1960 | 52,372,500 | 918,286 | 603,328 | 314,958 | 17.5 | 11.5 | 6.0 | 1.9 | 2.71 |
| 1961 | 52,807,400 | 944,365 | 631,788 | 312,577 | 17.9 | 12.0 | 5.9 | 2.3 | 2.78 |
| 1962 | 53,291,800 | 975,635 | 636,051 | 339,584 | 18.3 | 11.9 | 6.4 | 2.7 | 2.87 |
| 1963 | 53,624,900 | 990,160 | 654,288 | 335,872 | 18.5 | 12.2 | 6.3 | -0.1 | 2.90 |
| 1964 | 53,990,800 | 1,014,672 | 611,130 | 403,542 | 18.8 | 11.3 | 7.5 | −0.7 | 2.95 |
| 1965 | 54,349,500 | 997,275 | 627,798 | 369,477 | 18.3 | 11.6 | 6.8 | −0.2 | 2.88 |
| 1966 | 54,642,700 | 979,587 | 643,754 | 335,833 | 17.9 | 11.8 | 6.1 | −0.8 | 2.80 |
| 1967 | 54,959,000 | 961,800 | 616,710 | 345,090 | 17.5 | 11.2 | 6.3 | −0.5 | 2.69 |
| 1968 | 55,213,500 | 947,231 | 655,998 | 291,233 | 17.2 | 11.9 | 5.3 | −0.7 | 2.61 |
| 1969 | 55,460,600 | 920,256 | 659,537 | 260,719 | 16.6 | 11.9 | 4.7 | −0.2 | 2.51 |
| 1970 | 55,632,200 | 903,907 | 655,385 | 248,522 | 16.2 | 11.8 | 4.5 | −1.4 | 2.44 |
| 1971 | 55,928,000 | 901,648 | 645,078 | 256,570 | 16.1 | 11.5 | 4.6 | 0.7 | 2.40 |
| 1972 | 56,096,000 | 833,984 | 673,938 | 160,046 | 14.9 | 12.0 | 2.9 | 0.1 | 2.20 |
| 1973 | 56,223,000 | 779,545 | 669,692 | 109,853 | 13.9 | 11.9 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 2.03 |
| 1974 | 56,235,000 | 737,138 | 667,359 | 69,779 | 13.1 | 11.9 | 1.2 | −1.0 | 1.92 |
| 1975 | 56,225,000 | 697,518 | 662,477 | 35,041 | 12.4 | 11.8 | 0.6 | −0.8 | 1.81 |
| 1976 | 56,216,000 | 675,526 | 680,799 | -5,273 | 12.0 | 12.1 | -0.1 | −0.1 | 1.74 |
| 1977 | 56,189,000 | 657,038 | 655,143 | 1,895 | 11.7 | 11.7 | 0.0 | −0.5 | 1.69 |
| 1978 | 56,178,000 | 686,952 | 667,177 | 19,775 | 12.2 | 11.9 | 0.4 | −0.5 | 1.75 |
| 1979 | 56,240,000 | 734,572 | 675,576 | 58,996 | 13.1 | 12.0 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.86 |
| 1980 | 56,329,000 | 753,708 | 661,519 | 92,189 | 13.4 | 11.7 | 1.6 | -0.1 | 1.90 |
| 1981 | 56,357,000 | 730,712 | 657,974 | 72,738 | 13.0 | 11.7 | 1.3 | −0.8 | 1.82 |
| 1982 | 56,290,000 | 718,999 | 662,081 | 56,918 | 12.8 | 11.8 | 1.0 | −2.2 | 1.78 |
| 1983 | 56,315,000 | 721,238 | 659,101 | 62,137 | 12.8 | 11.7 | 1.1 | −0.7 | 1.77 |
| 1984 | 56,409,000 | 729,401 | 644,918 | 84,483 | 12.9 | 11.4 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 1.77 |
| 1985 | 56,554,000 | 750,520 | 670,656 | 79,864 | 13.3 | 11.9 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.79 |
| 1986 | 56,683,000 | 754,805 | 660,735 | 94,070 | 13.3 | 11.7 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.78 |
| 1987 | 56,804,000 | 775,405 | 644,342 | 131,063 | 13.7 | 11.3 | 2.3 | −0.2 | 1.81 |
| 1988 | 56,916,000 | 787,303 | 649,178 | 138,125 | 13.8 | 11.4 | 2.4 | −0.5 | 1.82 |
| 1989 | 57,076,000 | 777,036 | 657,733 | 119,303 | 13.6 | 11.5 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.79 |
| 1990 | 57,237,500 | 798,364 | 641,799 | 156,565 | 13.9 | 11.2 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 1.83 |
| 1991 | 57,438,700 | 792,269 | 646,181 | 146,088 | 13.8 | 11.3 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1.82 |
| 1992 | 57,584,500 | 780,779 | 634,238 | 146,541 | 13.6 | 11.0 | 2.5 | 0 | 1.79 |
| 1993 | 57,713,900 | 761,526 | 658,194 | 103,332 | 13.2 | 11.4 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.76 |
| 1994 | 57,862,100 | 750,480 | 626,222 | 124,258 | 13.0 | 10.8 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 1.74 |
| 1995 | 58,024,800 | 731,882 | 641,712 | 90,170 | 12.6 | 11.1 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.71 |
| 1996 | 58,164,400 | 733,163 | 638,879 | 94,284 | 12.6 | 11.0 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.73 |
| 1997 | 58,314,200 | 726,622 | 632,517 | 94,105 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.72 |
| 1998 | 58,474,900 | 716,888 | 627,592 | 89,296 | 12.3 | 10.7 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.71 |
| 1999 | 58,684,400 | 699,976 | 629,476 | 70,500 | 11.9 | 10.7 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 1.68 |
| 2000 | 58,886,100 | 679,029 | 610,579 | 68,450 | 11.5 | 10.4 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 1.64 |
| 2001 | 59,113,000 | 669,123 | 604,393 | 64,730 | 11.3 | 10.2 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 1.63 |
| 2002 | 59,365,700 | 668,777 | 608,045 | 60,732 | 11.3 | 10.2 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 1.63 |
| 2003 | 59,636,700 | 695,549 | 612,085 | 83,464 | 11.7 | 10.3 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 1.70 |
| 2004 | 59,950,400 | 715,996 | 584,791 | 131,205 | 11.9 | 9.8 | 2.2 | 3 | 1.77 |
| 2005 | 60,413,300 | 722,549 | 582,964 | 139,585 | 12.0 | 9.6 | 2.3 | 5.4 | 1.76 |
| 2006 | 60,827,100 | 748,563 | 572,224 | 176,339 | 12.3 | 9.4 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 1.82 |
| 2007 | 61,319,100 | 772,245 | 574,687 | 197,558 | 12.6 | 9.4 | 3.2 | 4.9 | 1.87 |
| 2008 | 61,823,800 | 794,383 | 579,697 | 214,686 | 12.8 | 9.4 | 3.5 | 4.7 | 1.96 |
| 2009 | 62,260,500 | 790,204 | 559,617 | 230,587 | 12.7 | 9.0 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 1.89 |
| 2010 | 62,759,500 | 807,721 | 561,666 | 246,055 | 12.9 | 8.9 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 1.92 |
| 2011 | 63,285,100 | 807,776 | 552,232 | 255,544 | 12.8 | 8.7 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 1.91 |
| 2012 | 63,705,000 | 812,970 | 569,024 | 243,946 | 12.8 | 8.9 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 1.92 |
| 2013 | 64,105,700 | 778,803 | 575,458 | 203,345 | 12.1 | 9.0 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 1.83 |
| 2014 | 64,596,800 | 776,352 | 570,341 | 206,011 | 12.0 | 8.8 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 1.82 |
| 2015 | 65,110,000 | 777,165 | 602,782 | 174,383 | 11.9 | 9.3 | 2.7 | 5.2 | 1.80 |
| 2016 | 65,648,100 | 774,835 | 595,659 | 179,176 | 11.8 | 9.1 | 2.7 | 5.5 | 1.79 |
| 2017 | 66,040,200 | 755,066 | 607,172 | 147,894 | 11.4 | 9.2 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 1.74 |
| 2018 | 66,435,600 | 731,213 | 616,014 | 115,199 | 11.0 | 9.3 | 1.7 | 4.2 | 1.68 |
| 2019 | 66,796,800 | 712,699 | 604,707 | 107,992 | 10.7 | 9.1 | 1.6 | 3.8 | 1.63 |
| 2020 | 67,081,234 | 681,560 | 689,629 | −8,069 | 10.2 | 10.3 | −0.1 | 4.4 | 1.56 |
| 2021 | 67,026,292 | 694,685 | 666,659 | 28,026 | 10.3 | 9.9 | 0.4 | −1.2 | 1.54[99] |
| 2022 | 67,596,300 | 673,141 | 657,278[100][101][102] | 15,863 | 10.0 | 9.7 | 0.3 | 8.3 | 1.49[103] |
| 2023 | 68,265,200[104] | 656,847 | 660,772 | −3,925 | 9.7 | 9.7 | −0.0 | 10.0 | 1.42 |
| 2024 | 69,281,437 | 659,719(e) | 647,640(e) | 12,079(e) | 9.5 | 9.4 | 0.1 | 1.41(e) |
In 2023, 208,877 (31.8%) of all live births were to non-UK-born mothers in England and Wales. 37.3% of live births were to parents where either one or both were born outside the UK.[105]
| Period | Live births | Deaths | Natural increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| January to August 2023 | 450,182 | ||
| January to August 2024 | 436,494 | ||
| Difference |  −13,688(−3.04%) | ||
| Source:[106][107][108] | |||
| Regions | TFR |
|---|---|
 Northern Ireland | 1.68 |
| West Midlands | 1.58 |
| East of England | 1.53 |
| South East | 1.48 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 1.47 |
| North West | 1.46 |
| East Midlands | 1.45 |
| North East | 1.44 |
 United Kingdom | 1.42 |
| Wales | 1.42 |
| South West | 1.36 |
 London | 1.34 |
| Scotland | 1.26 |
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 31,028,143 | 32,154,035 | 63,182,178 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 2,002,494 | 1,911,459 | 3,913,953 | 6.19 |
| 5–9 | 1,799,999 | 1,716,616 | 3,516,615 | 5.57 |
| 10–14 | 1,878,838 | 1,790,488 | 3,669,326 | 5.81 |
| 15–19 | 2,040,725 | 1,955,727 | 3,996,452 | 6.33 |
| 20–24 | 2,164,141 | 2,133,057 | 4,297,198 | 6.80 |
| 25–29 | 2,145,054 | 2,161,286 | 4,306,340 | 6.82 |
| 30–34 | 2,059,312 | 2,066,137 | 4,125,449 | 6.53 |
| 35–39 | 2,082,310 | 2,112,167 | 4,194,477 | 6.64 |
| 40–44 | 2,283,902 | 2,341,733 | 4,625,635 | 7.32 |
| 45–49 | 2,293,572 | 2,349,528 | 4,643,100 | 7.35 |
| 50–54 | 2,028,748 | 2,065,706 | 4,094,454 | 6.48 |
| 55–59 | 1,785,598 | 1,828,480 | 3,614,078 | 5.72 |
| 60–64 | 1,868,912 | 1,939,062 | 3,807,974 | 6.03 |
| 65–69 | 1,463,355 | 1,554,125 | 3,017,480 | 4.78 |
| 70–74 | 1,162,621 | 1,300,124 | 2,462,745 | 3.90 |
| 75–79 | 903 433 | 1,102,586 | 2,006,019 | 3.17 |
| 80–84 | 615 163 | 883 733 | 1,498,896 | 2.37 |
| 85–89 | 324 063 | 594 280 | 918 343 | 1.45 |
| 90–94 | 104 072 | 264 353 | 368 425 | 0.58 |
| 95–99 | 19 756 | 73 195 | 92 951 | 0.15 |
| 100+ | 2 075 | 10 193 | 12 268 | 0.02 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Per cent |
| 0–14 | 5,681,331 | 5,418,563 | 11,099,894 | 17.57 |
| 15–64 | 20,752,274 | 20,952,883 | 41,705,157 | 66.01 |
| 65+ | 4,594,538 | 5,782,589 | 10,377,127 | 16.42 |
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 33,145,709 | 33,935,525 | 67,081,234 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 1,941,390 | 1,840,940 | 3,782,330 | 5.64 |
| 5–9 | 2,125,958 | 2,021,455 | 4,147,413 | 6.18 |
| 10–14 | 2,073,515 | 1,971,599 | 4,045,114 | 6.03 |
| 15–19 | 1,893,268 | 1,790,412 | 3,683,680 | 5.49 |
| 20–24 | 2,132,032 | 2,001,126 | 4,133,158 | 6.16 |
| 25–29 | 2,280,809 | 2,195,821 | 4,476,630 | 6.67 |
| 30–34 | 2,263,511 | 2,258,464 | 4,521,975 | 6.74 |
| 35–39 | 2,179,535 | 2,224,565 | 4,404,100 | 6.57 |
| 40–44 | 2,032,071 | 2,059,472 | 4,091,543 | 6.10 |
| 45–49 | 2,126,397 | 2,177,570 | 4,303,967 | 6.42 |
| 50–54 | 2,269,897 | 2,346,120 | 4,616,017 | 6.88 |
| 55–59 | 2,216,617 | 2,294,234 | 4,510,851 | 6.72 |
| 60–64 | 1,888,526 | 1,967,292 | 3,855,818 | 5.75 |
| 65–69 | 1,624,419 | 1,730,962 | 3,355,381 | 5.00 |
| 70–74 | 1,606,864 | 1,757,042 | 3,363,906 | 5.01 |
| 75–79 | 1,114,488 | 1,289,271 | 2,403,759 | 3.58 |
| 80–84 | 759 183 | 967 040 | 1,726,223 | 2.57 |
| 85–89 | 420 012 | 629 854 | 1,049,866 | 1.57 |
| 90–94 | 162 110 | 308 580 | 470 670 | 0.70 |
| 95–99 | 32 420 | 91 300 | 123 710 | 0.18 |
| 100+ | 2 700 | 12 420 | 15 120 | 0.02 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Per cent |
| 0–14 | 6,140,863 | 5,833,994 | 11,974,857 | 17.85 |
| 15–64 | 21,282,650 | 21,315,062 | 42,597,712 | 63.50 |
| 65+ | 5,722,196 | 6,786,469 | 12,508,665 | 18.65 |
Parents’ country of birth:[112]
| Place of birth of parent | Number of births by place of birth of father (% of total births) | Number of births by place of birth of mother (% of total births) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
| Total | 723 165 (100) | 723 913 (100) | 729 674 (100) | 698 512 (100) | 695 233 (100) | 697 852 (100) | 696 271 (100) | 679 106 (100) | 657 076 (100) | 640 370 (100) | 613 936 (100) | 624 828 (100) | 605 479 (100) | 591 072 (100) | 723 165 (100) | 723 913 (100) | 729 674 (100) | 698 512 (100) | 695 233 (100) | 697 852 (100) | 696 271 (100) | 679 106 (100) | 657 076 (100) | 640 370 (100) | 613 936 (100) | 624 828 (100) | 605 479 (100) | 591 072 (100) |
| United Kingdom | 511 264 (70.70) | 510 370 (70.50) | 512 136 (70.19) | 487 046 (69.73) | 482 314 (69.37) | 481 227 (68.96) | 476 354 (68.42) | 462 923 (68.17) | 448 411 (68.24) | 434 113 (67.79) | 413 208 (67.30) | 427 313 (68.39) | 402 503 (66.48) | 384 404 (65.04) | 541 321 (74.85) | 539 364 (74.51) | 540 572 (74.08) | 513 411 (73.50) | 507 587 (73.01) | 505 588 (72.45) | 499 974 (71.81) | 486 417 (71.63) | 471 476 (71.75) | 456 328 (71.26) | 434 024 (70.70) | 445 055 (71.23) | 422 109 (69.71) | 403 057 (68.19) |
| Total outside United Kingdom | 169 393 (23.42) | 171 702 (23.72) | 175 639 (24.07) | 172 139 (24.64) | 175 118 (25.19) | 179 795 (25.76) | 183 764 (26.39) | 180 951 (26.65) | 174 579 (26.57) | 173 119 (27.03) | 168 742 (27.49) | 168 476 (26.96) | 173 197 (28.60) | 178 700 (30.23) | 181 827 (25.14) | 184 529 (25.49) | 189 079 (25.91) | 185 075 (26.50) | 187 610 (26.99) | 192 227 (27.55) | 196 254 (28.19) | 192 651 (28.37) | 185 569 (28.24) | 184 003 (28.73) | 179 881 (29.30) | 179 726 (28.76) | 183 309 (30.28) | 187 975 (31.80) |
| Not Stated | 42 508 (5.88) | 41 841 (5.78) | 41 899 (5.74) | 39 327 (5.63) | 37 801 (5.44) | 36 830 (5.28) | 36 153 (5.19) | 35 232 (5.19) | 34 086 (5.19) | 33 138 (5.17) | 31 986 (5.21) | 29 039 (4.65) | 29 779 (4.92) | 27 968 (4.73) | 17 (0.00) | 20 (0.00) | 23 (0.00) | 26 (0.00) | 36 (0.00) | 37 (0.00) | 43 (0.00) | 38 (0.00) | 31 (0.00) | 39 (0.00) | 31 (0.01) | 47 (0.01) | 61 (0.01) | 40 (0.01) |
| Total outside United Kingdom detail : | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 EU | 41 269 (5.71) | 43 335 (5.99) | 46 418 (6.36) | 47 607 (6.82) | 50 512 (7.27) | 55 334 (7.93) | 57 858 (8.31) | 58 565 (8.62) | 57 540 (8.76) | 55 626 (8.69) | 52 325 (8.52) | 51 720 (8.28) | 47 423 (7.83) | 42 630 (7.21) | 52 699 (7.29) | 55 058 (7.61) | 58 911 (8.07) | 60 448 (8.65) | 64 067 (9.22) | 69 070 (9.90) | 71 669 (10.29) | 71 472 (10.52) | 69 775 (10.62) | 67 645 (10.56) | 63 732 (10.38) | 62 992 (10.08) | 58 037 (9.59) | 51 855 (8.77) |
| Germany | 4 368 (0.60) | 4 298 (0.59) | 4 187 (0.57) | 3 957 (0.57) | 3 988 (0.57) | 3 972 (0.57) | 3 875 (0.56) | 3 687 (0.54) | 3 653 (0.56) | 3 198 (0.50) | 3 107 (0.51) | 5 328 (0.74) | 5 108 (0.71) | 5 064 (0.69) | 4 838 (0.69) | 4 708 (0.68) | 4 667 (0.67) | 4 560 (0.65) | 4 245 (0.63) | 3 917 (0.60) | 3 816 (0.60) | 3 609 (0.59) | 3 511 (0.56) | 3 154 (0.52) | ||||
| New EU | 25 758 (3.56) | 27 962 (3.86) | 30 695 (4.21) | 31 992 (4.58) | 34 139 (4.91) | 38 009 (5.45) | 39 985 (5.74) | 40 636 (5.98) | 39 933 (6.08) | 38 490 (6.01) | 35 651 (5.81) | 34 666 (5.55) | 31 515 (5.20) | 27 333 (4.62) | 34 194 (4.73) | 37 063 (5.12) | 40 821 (5.59) | 42 523 (6.09) | 45 344 (6.52) | 49 642 (7.11) | 51 962 (7.46) | 51 863 (7.64) | 50 840 (7.74) | 48 716 (7.61) | 45 034 (7.34) | 43 823 (7.01) | 39 896 (6.59) | 34 739 (5.88) |
| Romania | 3 867 (0.53) | 4 387 (0.63) | 5 414 (0.78) | 7 856 (1.13) | 10 684 (1.53) | 12 856 (1.89) | 14 269 (2.17) | 15 211 (2.38) | 14 791 (2.41) | 15 099 (2.42) | 14 651 (2.42) | 12 884 (2.18) | 4 406 (0.60) | 4 956 (0.71) | 6 102 (0.88) | 8 734 (1.25) | 11 721 (1.68) | 13 717 (2.02) | 15 196 (2.31) | 16 069 (2.51) | 15 713 (2.56) | 15 894 (2.54) | 15 518 (2.56) | 13 717 (2.32) | ||||
| Poland | 15 619 (2.16) | 16 150 (2.23) | 16 432 (2.25) | 16 436 (2.35) | 16 950 (2.44) | 17 704 (2.54) | 16 956 (2.44) | 15 610 (2.30) | 13 838 (2.11) | 12 041 (1.88) | 10 542 (1.72) | 9 458 (1.51) | 7 613 (1.26) | 6 344 (1.07) | 19 762 (2.73) | 20 495 (2.83) | 21 156 (2.90) | 21 275 (3.05) | 22 122 (3.18) | 22 928 (3.29) | 22 382 (3.21) | 20 779 (3.06) | 18 765 (2.86) | 16 737 (2.61) | 14 633 (2.38) | 13 373 (2.14) | 11 107 (1.83) | 9 420 (1.59) |
| Lithuania | 3 512 (0.50) | 3 454 (0.51) | 3 788 (0.52) | 4 535 (0.62) | 4 595 (0.66) | 4 786 (0.69) | 4 872 (0.70) | 4 912 (0.71) | 4 803 (0.71) | 4 517 (0.69) | 4 133 (0.65) | 3 619 (0.59) | 3 499 (0.56) | |||||||||||||||
| Rest of Europe (non EU) | 7 392 (1.02) | 7 276 (1.01) | 7 705 (1.06) | 7 608 (1.09) | 8 185 (1.18) | 8 776 (1.26) | 9 289 (1.33) | 9 552 (1.41) | 9 697 (1.48) | 10 553 (1.65) | 10 765 (1.75) | 11 346 (1.82) | 11 557 (1.91) | 12 175 (2.06) | 7 548 (1.04) | 7 537 (1.04) | 7 890 (1.08) | 7 959 (1.14) | 8 562 (1.23) | 9 208 (1.32) | 9 930 (1.43) | 10 385 (1.53) | 10 599 (1.61) | 11 418 (1.78) | 11 574 (1.89) | 11 974 (1.92) | 12 053 (1.99) | 12 573 (2.13) |
| Albania | 3 344 (0.54) | 3 768 (0.62) | 4 377 (0.74) | 3 260 (0.52) | 3 515 (0.58) | 3 891 (0.66) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Africa | 40 816 (5.64) | 39 746 (5.49) | 39 026 (5.35) | 37 563 (5.38) | 37 067 (5.33) | 36 876 (5.28) | 36 667 (5.27) | 35 459 (5.22) | 33 741 (5.14) | 33 375 (5.21) | 32 197 (5.24) | 31 800 (5.09) | 35 053 (5.79) | 38 950 (6.59) | 39 828 (5.51) | 38 523 (5.32) | 37 837 (5.19) | 36 264 (5.19) | 35 030 (5.04) | 34 960 (5.01) | 34 437 (4.95) | 32 875 (4.84) | 31 158 (4.74) | 30 753 (4.80) | 29 660 (4.83) | 29 150 (4.67) | 32 315 (5.34) | 36 623 (6.20) |
| North Africa | 4 939 (0.68) | 4 650 (0.64) | 4 504 (0.62) | 4 632 (0.66) | 4 737 (0.68) | 4 760 (0.68) | 4 762 (0.68) | 4 669 (0.69) | 4 669 (0.71) | 4 874 (0.76) | 4 808 (0.78) | 4 531 (0.73) | 4 720 (0.78) | 4 713 (0.80) | 3 839 (0.53) | 3 562 (0.49) | 3 488 (0.48) | 3 661 (0.52) | 3 733 (0.54) | 3 853 (0.55) | 3 901 (0.56) | 3 907 (0.58) | 3 945 (0.60) | 4 145 (0.65) | 4 270 (0.70) | 4 006 (0.64) | 4 256 (0.70) | 4 262 (0.72) |
| Western Africa | 14 240 (1.97) | 14 336 (1.98) | 14 546 (1.99) | 14 314 (2.05) | 14 508 (2.09) | 14 350 (2.06) | 14 383 (2.07) | 13 733 (2.02) | 13 246 (2.02) | 12 992 (2.03) | 12 689 (2.07) | 12 828 (2.05) | 15 696 (2.59) | 19 753 (3.34) | 13 217 (1.83) | 13 067 (1.81) | 13 344 (1.83) | 12 906 (1.85) | 12 613 (1.81) | 12 472 (1.79) | 12 254 (1.76) | 11 381 (1.68) | 10 809 (1.65%) | 10 625 (1.66) | 10 468 (1.71) | 10 487 (1.68) | 13 313 (2.20) | 17 644 (2.99) |
| Nigeria | 8 129 (1.12) | 8 335 (1.15) | 8 628 (1.18) | 8 397 (1.20) | 8 467 (1.22) | 8 339 (1.19) | 8 208 (1.18) | 7 821 (1.15) | 7 494 (1.14) | 7 201 (1.12) | 7 124 (1.16) | 7 492 (1.20) | 10 042 (1.66) | 13 815 (2.34) | 7 332 (1.01) | 7 476 (1.03) | 7 685 (1.05) | 7 267 (1.04) | 7 030 (1.01) | 6 829 (0.98) | 6 635 (0.95) | 6 074 (0.89) | 5 769 (0.88) | 5 634 (0.88) | 5 575 (0.91) | 5 907 (0.95) | 8 458 (1.40) | 12 312 (2.08) |
| Ghana | 3 487 (0.48) | 3 346 (0.46) | 3 545 (0.51) | 3 405 (0.52) | 3 366 (0.53) | 3 241 (0.53) | 3 085 (0.49) | 3 418 (0.56) | 3 798 (0.64) | 3 566 (0.49) | 3 363 (0.57) | |||||||||||||||||
| Central Africa | 2 468 (0.34) | 2 271 (0.31) | 2 228 (0.31) | 2 196 (0.31) | 2 212 (0.32) | 2 212 (0.32) | 2 216 (0.32) | 2 248 (0.33) | 2 126 (0.32) | 2 033 (0.32) | 1 926 (0.31) | 1 805 (0.29) | 1 950 (0.32) | 1 874 (0.32) | 2 599 (0.36) | 2 364 (0.33) | 2 356 (0.32) | 2 288 (0.33) | 2 275 (0.33) | 2 343 (0.34) | 2 247 (0.32) | 2 245 (0.33) | 2 117 (0.32%) | 2 075 (0.32) | 1 890 (0.31) | 1 838 (0.29) | 1 848 (0.31) | 1 781 (0.30) |
| Eastern Africa | 14 427 (1.99) | 13 930 (1.92) | 13 172 (1.81) | 12 280 (1.76) | 11 656 (1.68) | 11 719 (1.68) | 11 510 (1.65) | 11 145 (1.64) | 10 350 (1.58) | 10 224 (1.60) | 9 529 (1.55) | 9 340 (1.49) | 9 514 (1.57) | 9 540 (1.61) | 15 417 (2.13) | 14 800 (2.04) | 14 149 (1.94) | 13 305 (1.90) | 12 586 (1.81) | 12 499 (1.79) | 12 371 (1.78) | 11 899 (1.75) | 11 017 (1.68%) | 10 759 (1.68) | 10 013 (1.63) | 9 751 (1.56) | 9 895 (1.63) | 10 029 (1.70) |
| Somalia | 5 311 (0.73) | 5 171 (0.71) | 4 877 (0.67) | 4 540 (0.65) | 4 334 (0.62) | 4 286 (0.61) | 4 346 (0.62) | 4 139 (0.61) | 3 635 (0.55) | 3 586 (0.56) | 3 289 (0.54) | 3 168 (0.51) | 3 039 (0.50) | 5 882 (0.81) | 5 654 (0.78) | 5 300 (0.73) | 4 897 (0.70) | 4 696 (0.68) | 4 636 (0.66) | 4 621 (0.66) | 4 390 (0.65) | 3 765 (0.57) | 3 698 (0.58) | 3 347 (0.55) | ||||
| Southern Africa | 4 633 (0.64) | 4 465 (0.62) | 4 477 (0.61) | 4 051 (0.58) | 3 887 (0.56) | 3 767 (0.54) | 3 736 (0.54) | 3 612 (0.53) | 3 305 (0.50) | 3 208 (0.50) | 3 204 (0.52) | 3 238 (0.52) | 3 127 (0.52) | 3 038 (0.51) | 4 675 (0.65) | 4 651 (0.64) | 4 425 (0.61) | 4 032 (0.58) | 3 765 (0.54) | 3 743 (0.54) | 3 613 (0.52) | 3 395 (0.50) | 3 231 (0.49) | 3 113 (0.49) | 2 985 (0.49) | 3 018 (0.48) | 2 952 (0.49) | 2 883 (0.49) |
| South Africa | 4 485 (0.62) | 4 325 (0.60) | 4 337 (0.59) | 3 885 (0.56) | 3 744 (0.54) | 3 618 (0.52) | 3 559 (0.51) | 3 473 (0.51) | 3 178 (0.48) | 4 456 (0.62) | 4 430 (0.61) | 4 231 (0.58) | 3 824 (0.55) | 3 537 (0.51) | ||||||||||||||
| The Americas and the Caribbean | 10 865 (1.50) | 10 673 (1.47) | 10 861 (1.49) | 10 196 (1.46) | 10 541 (1.52) | 10 360 (1.48) | 10 606 (1.52) | 10 236 (1.51) | 10 061 (1.53) | 10 030 (1.57) | 9 844 (1.60) | 10 169 (1.63) | 10 259 (1.69) | 10 056 (1.70) | 11 494 (1.59) | 11 286 (1.56) | 11 317 (1.55) | 10 933 (1.57) | 11 191 (1.61) | 11 346 (1.63) | 11 441 (1.64) | 11 102 (1.63) | 11 097 (1.69) | 10 927 (1.71) | 10 912 (1.78) | 11 439 (1.83) | 11 487 (1.90) | 11 294 (1.91) |
| North America | 3 648 (0.50) | 3 680 (0.51) | 3 710 (0.51) | 3 465 (0.50) | 3 728 (0.54) | 3 596 (0.52) | 3 711 (0.53) | 3 482 (0.51) | 3 461 (0.53) | 3 407 (0.53) | 3 329 (0.54) | 3 468 (0.56) | 3 236 (0.53) | 3 231 (0.55) | 4 604 (0.64) | 4 518 (0.62) | 4 567 (0.63) | 4 382 (0.63) | 4 586 (0.66) | 4 564 (0.65) | 4 633 (0.67) | 4 429 (0.65) | 4 476 (0.68) | 4 338 (0.68) | 4 206 (0.69) | 4 583 (0.73) | 4 257 (0.70) | 4 316 (0.73) |
| United States Of America | 3 271 (0.48) | 3 333 (0.51) | 3 240 (0.51) | 3 145 (0.51) | 3 446 (0.55) | 3 200 (0.53) | 3 229 (0.55) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Central America | 233 (0.03) | 252 (0.03) | 221 (0.03) | 249 (0.04) | 243 (0.03) | 284 (0.04) | 284 (0.04) | 254 (0.04) | 274 (0.04) | 279 (0.04) | 279 (0.05) | 342 (0.05) | 383 (0.06) | 415 (0.07) | 343 (0.05) | 373 (0.05) | 345 (0.05) | 365 (0.05) | 403 (0.06) | 414 (0.06) | 402 (0.06) | 410 (0.06) | 428 (0.07) | 412 (0.06) | 427 (0.07) | 494 (0.08) | 513 (0.08) | 565 (0.10) |
| South America | 2 427 (0.34) | 2 363 (0.33) | 2 461 (0.34) | 2 438 (0.35) | 2 624 (0.38) | 2 698 (0.39) | 2 935 (0.42) | 2 930 (0.43) | 3 027 (0.46) | 3 095 (0.48) | 3 245 (0.53) | 3 414 (0.55) | 3 651 (0.60) | 3 583 (0.61) | 3 378 (0.47) | 3 282 (0.45) | 3 285 (0.45) | 3 301 (0.47) | 3 419 (0.49) | 3 594 (0.52) | 3 799 (0.55) | 3 823 (0.56) | 3 813 (0.58) | 3 939 (0.62) | 4 117 (0.67) | 4 238 (0.68) | 4 509 (0.74) | 4 409 (0.75) |
| Caribbean | 4 557 (0.63) | 4 378 (0.60) | 4 469 (0.61) | 4 044 (0.58) | 3 946 (0.57) | 3 782 (0.54) | 3 676 (0.53) | 3 570 (0.53) | 3 299 (0.50) | 3 249 (0.51) | 2 991 (0.49) | 2 945 (0.47) | 2 989 (0.49) | 2 827 (0.48) | 3 169 (0.44) | 3 113 (0.43) | 3 120 (0.43) | 2 885 (0.41) | 2 783 (0.40) | 2 774 (0.40) | 2 607 (0.37) | 2 440 (0.36) | 2 380 (0.36) | 2 238 (0.35) | 2 162 (0.35) | 2 124 (0.34) | 2 208 (0.36) | 2 004 (0.34) |
| Middle East and Asia | 65 060 (9.00) | 66 963 (9.25) | 67 999 (9.32) | 65 764 (9.41) | 65 634 (9.44) | 65 419 (9.37) | 66 259 (9.52) | 64 234 (9.46) | 60 879 (9.27) | 61 081 (9.54) | 61 258 (9.98) | 61 002 (9.76) | 66 899 (11.05) | 72 936 (12.34) | 66 348 (9.17) | 68 534 (9.47) | 69 667 (9.55) | 66 324 (9.50) | 65 725 (9.45) | 64 748 (9.28) | 65 961 (9.47) | 64 126 (9.44) | 60 431 (9.20) | 60 881 (9.51) | 61 760 (10.06) | 61 854 (9.90) | 67 342 (11.12) | 73 691 (12.47) |
| Middle East | 8 035 (1.11) | 7 967 (1.10) | 7 926 (1.09) | 8 049 (1.15) | 8 392 (1.21) | 8 753 (1.25) | 9 229 (1.33) | 9 578 (1.41) | 9 801 (1.49) | 9 693 (1.51) | 9 452 (1.54) | 9 687 (1.55) | 10 302 (1.70) | 10 622 (1.80) | 6 657 (0.92) | 6 793 (0.94) | 6 781 (0.93) | 6 773 (0.97) | 7 073 (1.02) | 7 409 (1.06) | 7 883 (1.13) | 8 269 (1.22) | 8 433 (1.28) | 8 600 (1.34) | 8 387 (1.37) | 8 676 (1.39) | 9 255 (1.53) | 9 651 (1.63) |
| Central Asia | 166 (0.02) | 161 (0.02) | 190 (0.03) | 185 (0.03) | 220 (0.03) | 188 (0.03) | 193 (0.03) | 189 (0.03) | 223 (0.03) | 179 (0.03) | 210 (0.03) | 222 (0.04) | 219 (0.04) | 265 (0.04) | 296 (0.04) | 360 (0.05) | 375 (0.05) | 364 (0.05) | 376 (0.05) | 422 (0.06) | 403 (0.06) | 397 (0.06) | 432 (0.07) | 363 (0.06) | 415 (0.07) | 368 (0.06) | 352 (0.06) | 394 (0.07) |
| Eastern Asia | 4 019 (0.56) | 4 030 (0.56) | 4 493 (0.62) | 3 724 (0.53) | 4 118 (0.59) | 3 724 (0.53) | 3 912 (0.56) | 3 457 (0.51) | 3 104 (0.47) | 3 016 (0.47) | 2 721 (0.44) | 2 419 (0.39) | 2 657 (0.44) | 2 813 (0.48) | 5 931 (0.82) | 5 928 (0.82) | 6 541 (0.90) | 5 605 (0.80) | 6 072 (0.87) | 5 538 (0.79) | 5 836 (0.84) | 5 346 (0.79) | 4 765 (0.73) | 4 614 (0.72) | 4 129 (0.67) | 3 871 (0.62) | 4 075 (0.67) | 4 042 (0.68) |
| China | 3 611 (0.50) | 3 882 (0.56) | 3 596 (0.52) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern Asia | 48 722 (6.74) | 50 693 (7.00) | 51 472 (7.05) | 50 389 (7.21) | 49 602 (7.13) | 49 468 (7.09) | 49 799 (7.15) | 48 143 (7.09) | 45 047 (6.86) | 45 482 (7.10) | 46 059 (7.50) | 45 924 (7.35) | 50 645 (8.36) | 55 707 (9.42) | 46 737 (6.46) | 48 817 (6.74) | 49 302 (6.76) | 47 755 (6.84) | 46 485 (6.69) | 45 795 (6.56) | 46 409 (6.67) | 44 953 (6.62) | 42 007 (6.39) | 42 556 (6.65) | 44 008 (7.17) | 44 170 (7.07) | 48 645 (8.03) | 54 152 (9.16) |
| India | 12 799 (1.77) | 14 181 (1.96) | 13 991 (1.92) | 13 662 (1.96) | 13 639 (1.96) | 13 798 (1.98) | 14 007 (2.01) | 13 715 (2.02) | 12 968 (1.97) | 13 569 (2.12) | 14 631 (2.38) | 15 452 (2.47) | 18 013 (2.97) | 21 750 (3.68) | 13 575 (1.88) | 14 892 (2.06) | 14 621 (2.00) | 14 044 (2.01) | 13 735 (1.98) | 13 780 (1.97) | 13 883 (1.99) | 13 476 (1.98) | 12 675 (1.93) | 13 108 (2.05) | 14 404 (2.35) | 15 260 (2.44) | 17 745 (2.93) | 21 513 (3.64) |
| Pakistan | 19 091 (2.64) | 19 612 (2.71) | 20 280 (2.78) | 20 068 (2.87) | 19 601 (2.82) | 19 236 (2.76) | 19 131 (2.75) | 18 513 (2.73) | 17 334 (2.64) | 17 519 (2.74) | 17 140 (2.79) | 16 375 (2.62) | 17 393 (2.87) | 18 227 (3.08) | 17 840 (2.47) | 18 434 (2.55) | 19 091 (2.62) | 18 578 (2.66) | 17 943 (2.58) | 17 342 (2.49) | 17 367 (2.49) | 17 099 (2.52) | 15 996 (2.43) | 16 320 (2.55) | 16 460 (2.68) | 15 791 (2.53) | 16 654 (2.75) | 17 715 (3.00) |
| Bangladesh | 9 105 (1.26) | 9 027 (1.25) | 9 033 (1.24) | 8 776 (1.26) | 8 534 (1.23) | 8 699 (1.25) | 8 876 (1.27) | 8 286 (1.22) | 7 754 (1.18) | 7 371 (1.15) | 7 244 (1.18) | 7 184 (1.15) | 7 435 (1.23) | 8 160 (1.38) | 8 360 (1.16) | 8 371 (1.16) | 8 224 (1.13) | 7 982 (1.14) | 7 783 (1.12) | 7 752 (1.11) | 8 106 (1.16) | 7 426 (1.09) | 7 027 (1.07) | 6 774 (1.06) | 6 767 (1.10) | 6 790 (1.09) | 7 007 (1.16) | 7 889 (1.33) |
| Afghanistan | 3 232 (0.50) | 3 275 (0.53) | 3 345 (0.54) | 4 254 (0.70) | 3 818 (0.65) | 3 875 (0.64) | 3 388 (0.57) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sri Lanka | 3 717 (0.51) | 3 698 (0.51) | 3 745 (0.51) | 3 530 (0.51) | 3 509 (0.50) | 3 511 (0.49) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| South East Asia | 4 048 (0.56) | 4 040 (0.56) | 3 860 (0.53) | 3 374 (0.48) | 3 237 (0.47) | 3 226 (0.46) | 3 075 (0.44) | 2 831 (0.42) | 2 660 (0.40) | 2 661 (0.42) | 2 769 (0.45) | 2 711 (0.43) | 3 041 (0.50) | 3 499 (0.59) | 6 650 (0.92) | 6 561 (0.91) | 6 592 (0.90) | 5 774 (0.83) | 5 641 (0.81) | 5 519 (0.79) | 5 365 (0.77) | 5 117 (0.75) | 4 725 (0.72) | 4 681 (0.73) | 4 755 (0.77) | 4 714 (0.75) | 4 955 (0.82) | 5 405 (0.91) |
| Antarctica and Oceania | 3 991 (0.55) | 3 709 (0.51) | 3 630 (0.50) | 3 401 (0.49) | 3 179 (0.46) | 3 030 (0.43) | 3 085 (0.44) | 2 905 (0.43) | 2 661 (0.40) | 2 454 (0.38) | 2 353 (0.38) | 2 439 (0.39) | 2 006 (0.33) | 1 953 (0.33) | 3 910 (0.54) | 3 591 (0.50) | 3 457 (0.47) | 3 147 (0.45) | 3 035 (0.44)) | 2 895 (0.41) | 2 816 (0.40) | 2 691 (0.40) | 2 509 (0.38) | 2 379 (0.37) | 2 243 (0.37) | 2 317 (0.37) | 2 075 (0.34) | 1 939 (0.33) |
| Australasia | 3 707 (0.51) | 3 434 (0.47) | 3 344 (0.46) | 3 124 (0.45) | 2 903 (0.42) | 2 788 (0.40) | 2 861 (0.41) | 2 667 (0.39) | 2 439 (0.37) | 2 257 (0.35) | 2 182 (0.36) | 2 251 (0.36) | 1 820 (0.30) | 1 768 (0.30) | 3 660 (0.51) | 3 350 (0.46) | 3 232 (0.44) | 2 921 (0.42) | 2 800 (0.40) | 2 695 (0.39) | 2 602 (0.37) | 2 499 (0.37) | 2 335 (0.36) | 2 219 (0.35) | 2 101 (0.34) | 2 185 (0.35) | 1 921 (0.32) | 1 790 (0.30) |
| Other Oceania | 284 (0.04) | 274 (0.04) | 286 (0.04) | 277 (0.04) | 276 (0.04) | 242 (0.03) | 224 (0.03) | 238 (0.04) | 222 (0.03) | 197 (0.03) | 171 (0.03) | 188 (0.03) | 186 (0.03) | 185 (0.03) | 249 (0.03) | 239 (0.03) | 223 (0.03) | 226 (0.03) | 235 (0.03) | 200 (0.03) | 214 (0.03) | 192 (0.03) | 174 (0.03) | 160 (0.02) | 142 (0.02) | 132 (0.02) | 154 (0.03) | 149 (0.03) |
In 2004, 58% of births were conceived within a married couple, 35% by non-married couples registered by both parents and 7% by non-married mothers who registered the birth alone.[41]
This varied from each constituent nation, Wales for example had the highest births outside of marriage at 51% in 2004, In England this percentage was 42% and in Scotland 47%. Northern Ireland had the lowest of 35% in 2004.[41]
Out of the 600,000 people in the UK that applied to go to university throughUCAS in 2020, 7.2%, or 40,000, described themselves as LGBT on their application form. UCAS estimates this to be a rate 2.5 times higher than the overall UK population. The UCAS report in collaboration withStonewall also found LGBT students were more likely to come from disadvantaged backgrounds (compared to those who identified as heterosexual or didn't specify), have a disability (compared to non-LGBT students) and have a mental health condition (compared to non-LGBT students).[113]
For the first time, the2021 United Kingdom census included a question on sexual orientation.[114] Results for Scotland are expected to be published from spring 2024 onwards.[115]
| Sexual orientation (aged 16 and over) | ||
|---|---|---|
| England and Wales[116] | Northern Ireland[117] | |
| Straight or Heterosexual | 89.4% | 90.0% |
| Gay or Lesbian | 1.5% | 1.2% |
| Bisexual | 1.3% | 0.8% |
| All other sexual orientations | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Not answered | 7.5% | 7.9% |
In the2021 United Kingdom census, in England and Wales, 262,000 people (0.5%) answered that theirgender identity was different from theirsex assigned at birth, including 0.10% who identified as atrans man, 0.10% as atrans woman, and 0.06% asnon-binary.[118] 1% of people aged 16 to 24 years said that their gender identity was different from their sex assigned at birth.[119]
Abortion in the United Kingdom (however notNorthern Ireland) was officially decriminalised under theAbortion Act 1967, allowing women for the first time to get an abortion under numerous medical grounds outlined within the act. Previously, this was outlawed under theOffences Against the Person Act 1861 and then the updatedInfant Life (Preservation) Act 1929 which only permitted an abortion if the death of a child was "done in good faith for the purpose only of preserving the life of the mother".
In 2020, the number of conceptions which led to an abortion was around 25.3%[120]
| Year | Percentage of conceptions leading to an abortion |
|---|---|
| 1969 | 5.98% |
| 1971 | 11.32% |
| 1976 | 15.17% |
| 1981 | 17.09% |
| 1986 | 18.02% |
| 1991 | 19.6% |
| 1996 | 20.55% |
| 2001 | 23% |
| 2006 | 22.26% |
| 2011 | 20.88% |
| 2016 | 21.5% |
| 2020 | 25.29% |
| 2001[122] | 2011[123] | 2021[124] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Very good health | 35,676,210 | 68.6% | 26,434,409 | 47.1% | 28,827,308 | 48.4% |
| Good health | 19,094,820 | 34.1% | 20,046,220 | 33.6% | ||
| Fair health | 11,568,363 | 22.2% | 7,401,881 | 13.2% | 7,597,001 | 12.7% |
| Bad health | 4,797,343 | 9.2% | 2,428,668 | 4.3% | 2,412,358 | 4.0% |
| Very bad health | 716,134 | 1.3% | 714,655 | 1.2% | ||
| Total | 52,041,916 | 100% | 56,075,912 | 100% | 59,597,542 | 100% |
| Disability status | England and Wales | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 (long-term illness)[125] | 2001 (limiting long-term illness)[126] | 2011[127] | 2021[128] | |||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Disabled (under the Equality Act) | 6,039,455 | 11.9% | 9,484,856 | 18.2% | 10,048,441 | 17.9% | 10,444,776 | 17.5% |
| Disabled under the Equality Act: Day-to-day activities limited a little | – | – | – | – | 5,278,729 | 9.4% | 5,985,013 | 10.0% |
| Disabled under the Equality Act: Day-to-day activities limited a lot | – | – | – | – | 4,769,712 | 8.5% | 4,459,763 | 7.5% |
| Not disabled (under the Equality Act) | – | – | – | – | 46,027,471 | 82.1% | 49,152,766 | 82.5% |
| Not disabled under the Equality Act: No long term physical or mental health conditions | – | – | – | – | 46,027,471 | 82.1% | 45,090,197 | 75.7% |
| Not disabled under the Equality Act: Has long term physical or mental health condition but day-to-day activities are not limited | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4,062,569 | 6.8% |
| Total | 50,748,000 | 100% | 52,041,916 | 100% | 56,075,912 | 100% | 59,597,542 | 100% |
The unemployment rate for the youth age bracket of 15–24 was 11.2% in 2019 – 13% for males and 9.2% for females.[129]
.svg)
_across_the_UK_mapped_in_2020.svg)
.png)
.png)
| Method of transportation | England and Wales (aged 16 and over in employment) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 (10% sample)[130] | 1991 (10% sample)[131] | 2001[132] | 2011[133] | 2021[134] | ||||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Work mainly at or from home | 77,711 | 3.7% | 105,715 | 4.9% | 2,170,547 | 9.2% | 1,422,708 | 5.4% | 8,671,722 | 31.2% |
| Underground, metro, light rail, tram | 42,717 | 2.1% | – | – | 706,477 | 3.0% | 1,028,800 | 3.9% | 505,311 | 1.8% |
| Train | 80,751 | 3.9% | 129,325 | 6.1% | 957,713 | 4.1% | 1,371,025 | 5.2% | 529,461 | 1.9% |
| Bus, minibus or coach | 315,767 | 15.2% | 196,554 | 9.2% | 1,742,300 | 7.4% | 1,949,442 | 7.3% | 1,160,990 | 4.2% |
| Taxi | – | – | – | – | 121,380 | 0.5% | 137,988 | 0.5% | 200,490 | 0.7% |
| Motorcycle, scooter or moped | 61,244 | 2.9% | 32,828 | 1.5% | 257,474 | 1.1% | 214,244 | 0.8% | 128,849 | 0.5% |
| Driving a car or van | 806,735 | 38.8% | 1,148,863 | 53.7% | 13,012,850 | 55.3% | 15,264,527 | 57.5% | 12,524,571 | 45.1% |
| Passenger in a car or van | 248,400 | 12.0% | 159,317 | 7.5% | 1,472,576 | 6.3% | 1,357,280 | 5.1% | 1,083,447 | 3.9% |
| Bicycle | 80,084 | 3.9% | 66,739 | 3.1% | 648,433 | 2.8% | 762,334 | 2.9% | 569,295 | 2.0% |
| On foot | 318,606 | 15.3% | 247,987 | 11.6% | 2,352,386 | 10.0% | 2,846,588 | 10.7% | 2,113,657 | 7.6% |
| Other method of travel to work (and Not stated) | 47,482 | 2.3% | 50,517 | 2.4% | 86,916 | 0.4% | 171,400 | 0.6% | 285,873 | 1.0% |
| Total | 2,079,497 | 100% | 2,137,845 | 100% | 23,529,052 | 100% | 26,526,336 | 100% | 27,773,666 | 100% |
Migration to the UK has varied through its history. Irish migration from theGreat Famine predominated during the 19th century.[135] Additionally Jewish migration from Russia also arrived famously intoBethnal Green in London.[135]
Starting from the 1950s onwards, following on from theBritish Nationality Act 1948 which de jure allowed the migration of upwards 800,000,000[136] British subjects who were now British citizens in law, modern mass migration to the United Kingdom began. During this decade West Indians from the Caribbean, those from Jamaica and St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica so on began to arrive.[137]
During the middle of the 1960s to the 1970s, migration flipped in origin to the majority of those arriving being of South Asian origin from theIndian sub-continent. Immigration restrictions, in response to the ever increasing number arriving, were introduced, such as theCommonwealth Immigrants Act 1962,Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1968 and theImmigration Act 1971.[138][137]
Through the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, net migration to the United Kingdom was often negative in terms of numbers, with more people leaving the country, than entering in total.
Since 1994, net migration in numbers has been in the positives, with more people entering the country, rather than leaving.[30] Migration increased fourfold following the election of Tony Blair in 1997,[139][140] immigration restrictions were undone such as the primary purpose rule.[141]
In 2004, along with Ireland and Sweden, Britain was one of the only countries within the EU to not implement 'transitional controls' on migration flows from the newly joinedA8 countries from Eastern Europe.[142][143] Around 453,000 immigrants, which has been revised upwards in recent years,[143][144] from these new counties were estimated in 2015 to have migrated to the UK.[145]
| Period | Non-EU | EU | British | Total Long-Term Immigration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YE Jun 2012 | 238,000 | 327,000 | 74,000 | 639,000 |
| YE Sep 2012 | 232,000 | 322,000 | 76,000 | 630,000 |
| YE Dec 2012 | 230,000 | 334,000 | 79,000 | 643,000 |
| YE Mar 2013 | 224,000 | 350,000 | 75,000 | 649,000 |
| YE Jun 2013 | 222,000 | 373,000 | 75,000 | 669,000 |
| YE Sep 2013 | 233,000 | 410,000 | 78,000 | 720,000 |
| YE Dec 2013 | 234,000 | 402,000 | 76,000 | 713,000 |
| YE Mar 2014 | 236,000 | 414,000 | 80,000 | 731,000 |
| YE Jun 2014 | 236,000 | 420,000 | 82,000 | 737,000 |
| YE Sep 2014 | 239,000 | 441,000 | 81,000 | 761,000 |
| YE Dec 2014 | 241,000 | 457,000 | 81,000 | 778,000 |
| YE Mar 2015 | 240,000 | 457,000 | 83,000 | 780,000 |
| YE Jun 2015 | 241,000 | 454,000 | 83,000 | 778,000 |
| YE Sep 2015 | 240,000 | 453,000 | 81,000 | 774,000 |
| YE Dec 2015 | 238,000 | 481,000 | 78,000 | 797,000 |
| YE Mar 2016 | 235,000 | 490,000 | 78,000 | 803,000 |
| YE Jun 2016 | 237,000 | 521,000 | 74,000 | 832,000 |
| YE Sep 2016 | 238,000 | 496,000 | 70,000 | 804,000 |
| YE Dec 2016 | 237,000 | 465,000 | 70,000 | 772,000 |
| YE Mar 2017 | 239,000 | 447,000 | 72,000 | 759,000 |
| YE Jun 2017 | 241,000 | 399,000 | 78,000 | 718,000 |
| YE Sep 2017 | 251,000 | 425,000 | 78,000 | 754,000 |
| YE Dec 2017 | 257,000 | 411,000 | 84,000 | 752,000 |
| YE Mar 2018 | 261,000 | 399,000 | 76,000 | 736,000 |
| YE Jun 2018 | 269,000 | 407,000 | 81,000 | 757,000 |
| YE Sep 2018 | 284,000 | 397,000 | 85,000 | 766,000 |
| YE Dec 2018 | 330,000 | 421,000 | 74,000 | 825,000 |
| YE Mar 2019 | 346,000 | 429,000 | 74,000 | 849,000 |
| YE Jun 2019 | 347,000 | 413,000 | 61,000 | 821,000 |
| YE Sep 2019 | 351,000 | 376,000 | 66,000 | 793,000 |
| YE Dec 2019 | 368,000 | 349,000 | 71,000 | 788,000 |
| YE Mar 2020 | 388,000 | 347,000 | 80,000 | 815,000 |
| YE Jun 2020 | 331,000 | 333,000 | 72,000 | 736,000 |
| YE Sep 2020 | 260,000 | 293,000 | 53,000 | 606,000 |
| YE Dec 2020 | 294,000 | 316,000 | 52,000 | 662,000 |
| YE Mar 2021 | 297,000 | 287,000 | 44,000 | 629,000 |
| YE Jun 2021 | 368,000 | 279,000 | 62,000 | 709,000 |
| YE Sep 2021 | 534,000 | 249,000 | 96,000 | 878,000 |
| YE Dec 2021 | 611,000 | 172,000 | 108,000 | 891,000 |
| YE Mar 2022 | 721,000 | 138,000 | 110,000 | 968,000 |
| YE Jun 2022 | 848,000 | 121,000 | 108,000 | 1,078,000 |
| YE Sep 2022 | 984,000 | 114,000 | 94,000 | 1,192,000 |
| YE Dec 2022 | 1,030,000 | 116,000 | 88,000 | 1,234,000 |
| YE Mar 2023 | 988,000 | 128,000 | 87,000 | 1,202,000 |
| YE Jun 2023 | 968,000 | 129,000 | 84,000 | 1,180,000 |
| Period | Non-EU | EU | British | Total Long-Term Emigration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YE Jun 2012 | 181,000 | 140,000 | 156,000 | 477,000 |
| YE Sep 2012 | 178,000 | 139,000 | 156,000 | 473,000 |
| YE Dec 2012 | 169,000 | 128,000 | 151,000 | 448,000 |
| YE Mar 2013 | 164,000 | 127,000 | 154,000 | 446,000 |
| YE Jun 2013 | 166,000 | 131,000 | 157,000 | 454,000 |
| YE Sep 2013 | 169,000 | 135,000 | 158,000 | 461,000 |
| YE Dec 2013 | 171,000 | 141,000 | 157,000 | 469,000 |
| YE Mar 2014 | 170,000 | 151,000 | 154,000 | 475,000 |
| YE Jun 2014 | 171,000 | 161,000 | 157,000 | 489,000 |
| YE Sep 2014 | 166,000 | 171,000 | 160,000 | 497,000 |
| YE Dec 2014 | 154,000 | 180,000 | 161,000 | 494,000 |
| YE Mar 2015 | 146,000 | 182,000 | 156,000 | 484,000 |
| YE Jun 2015 | 141,000 | 187,000 | 154,000 | 482,000 |
| YE Sep 2015 | 137,000 | 191,000 | 153,000 | 481,000 |
| YE Dec 2015 | 150,000 | 193,000 | 151,000 | 494,000 |
| YE Mar 2016 | 155,000 | 196,000 | 155,000 | 506,000 |
| YE Jun 2016 | 155,000 | 199,000 | 157,000 | 511,000 |
| YE Sep 2016 | 155,000 | 202,000 | 157,000 | 514,000 |
| YE Dec 2016 | 147,000 | 213,000 | 163,000 | 523,000 |
| YE Mar 2017 | 143,000 | 213,000 | 163,000 | 519,000 |
| YE Jun 2017 | 149,000 | 212,000 | 157,000 | 518,000 |
| YE Sep 2017 | 152,000 | 233,000 | 163,000 | 549,000 |
| YE Dec 2017 | 144,000 | 235,000 | 164,000 | 544,000 |
| YE Mar 2018 | 139,000 | 240,000 | 165,000 | 543,000 |
| YE Jun 2018 | 127,000 | 249,000 | 165,000 | 541,000 |
| YE Sep 2018 | 129,000 | 259,000 | 152,000 | 539,000 |
| YE Dec 2018 | 152,000 | 250,000 | 147,000 | 549,000 |
| YE Mar 2019 | 155,000 | 274,000 | 146,000 | 575,000 |
| YE Jun 2019 | 167,000 | 287,000 | 143,000 | 597,000 |
| YE Sep 2019 | 180,000 | 262,000 | 150,000 | 591,000 |
| YE Dec 2019 | 182,000 | 269,000 | 153,000 | 605,000 |
| YE Mar 2020 | 222,000 | 266,000 | 157,000 | 645,000 |
| YE Jun 2020 | 216,000 | 263,000 | 146,000 | 625,000 |
| YE Sep 2020 | 199,000 | 249,000 | 123,000 | 571,000 |
| YE Dec 2020 | 192,000 | 247,000 | 130,000 | 569,000 |
| YE Mar 2021 | 147,000 | 226,000 | 123,000 | 496,000 |
| YE Jun 2021 | 142,000 | 211,000 | 135,000 | 488,000 |
| YE Sep 2021 | 121,000 | 233,000 | 82,000 | 436,000 |
| YE Dec 2021 | 115,000 | 234,000 | 76,000 | 424,000 |
| YE Mar 2022 | 118,000 | 244,000 | 81,000 | 443,000 |
| YE Jun 2022 | 128,000 | 254,000 | 89,000 | 471,000 |
| YE Sep 2022 | 145,000 | 249,000 | 89,000 | 483,000 |
| YE Dec 2022 | 157,000 | 239,000 | 92,000 | 489,000 |
| YE Mar 2023 | 171,000 | 231,000 | 96,000 | 497,000 |
| YE Jun 2023 | 200,000 | 215,000 | 93,000 | 508,000 |
| Period | Non-EU | EU | British | Total Long-Term Net Migration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YE Jun 2012 | 57000 | 187000 | −83000 | 162000 |
| YE Sep 2012 | 54000 | 183000 | −80000 | 157000 |
| YE Dec 2012 | 61000 | 206000 | −72000 | 195000 |
| YE Mar 2013 | 60000 | 223000 | −79000 | 204000 |
| YE Jun 2013 | 56000 | 242000 | −83000 | 215000 |
| YE Sep 2013 | 64000 | 275000 | −80000 | 259000 |
| YE Dec 2013 | 63000 | 262000 | −81000 | 244000 |
| YE Mar 2014 | 67000 | 263000 | −74000 | 256000 |
| YE Jun 2014 | 65000 | 258000 | −75000 | 248000 |
| YE Sep 2014 | 73000 | 270000 | −79000 | 264000 |
| YE Dec 2014 | 87000 | 277000 | −80000 | 284000 |
| YE Mar 2015 | 94000 | 275000 | −73000 | 296000 |
| YE Jun 2015 | 101000 | 267000 | −72000 | 296000 |
| YE Sep 2015 | 103000 | 262000 | −72000 | 293000 |
| YE Dec 2015 | 88000 | 287000 | −73000 | 303000 |
| YE Mar 2016 | 80000 | 294000 | −77000 | 298000 |
| YE Jun 2016 | 82000 | 322000 | −83000 | 321000 |
| YE Sep 2016 | 83000 | 294000 | −87000 | 290000 |
| YE Dec 2016 | 90000 | 253000 | −94000 | 249000 |
| YE Mar 2017 | 97000 | 235000 | −91000 | 240000 |
| YE Jun 2017 | 91000 | 188000 | −79000 | 200000 |
| YE Sep 2017 | 98000 | 192000 | −85000 | 205000 |
| YE Dec 2017 | 114000 | 176000 | −81000 | 208000 |
| YE Mar 2018 | 122000 | 160000 | −89000 | 193000 |
| YE Jun 2018 | 143000 | 158000 | −84000 | 216000 |
| YE Sep 2018 | 155000 | 138000 | −67000 | 226000 |
| YE Dec 2018 | 178000 | 170000 | −72000 | 276000 |
| YE Mar 2019 | 190000 | 155000 | −72000 | 274000 |
| YE Jun 2019 | 179000 | 126000 | −82000 | 224000 |
| YE Sep 2019 | 171000 | 114000 | −83000 | 202000 |
| YE Dec 2019 | 186000 | 80000 | −82000 | 184000 |
| YE Mar 2020 | 166000 | 81000 | −77000 | 170000 |
| YE Jun 2020 | 115000 | 70000 | −74000 | 111000 |
| YE Sep 2020 | 60000 | 45000 | −70000 | 35000 |
| YE Dec 2020 | 101000 | 70000 | −78000 | 93000 |
| YE Mar 2021 | 150000 | 61000 | −79000 | 132000 |
| YE Jun 2021 | 226000 | 68000 | −73000 | 221000 |
| YE Sep 2021 | 413000 | 16000 | 14000 | 443000 |
| YE Dec 2021 | 496000 | −62000 | 32000 | 466000 |
| YE Mar 2022 | 603000 | −106000 | 29000 | 526000 |
| YE Jun 2022 | 720000 | −133000 | 20000 | 607000 |
| YE Sep 2022 | 839000 | 135000 | 6000 | 709000 |
| YE Dec 2022 | 873000 | −123000 | −4000 | 745000 |
| YE Mar 2023 | 817000 | −102000 | −9000 | 705000 |
| YE Jun 2023 | 768000 | −86000 | −10000 | 672000 |
Country of birth was first asked as a census question in 1841.[146]
| Rank | Country of birth | Population[147] |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  India | 863,000 |
| 2 |  Poland | 818,000 |
| 3 |  Pakistan | 547,000 |
| 4 |  Romania | 427,000 |
| 5 |  Ireland | 360,000 |
| 6 |  Germany | 289,000 |
| 7 |  Bangladesh | 260,000 |
| 8 |  South Africa | 252,000 |
| 9 |  Italy | 233,000 |
| 10 |  China | 217,000 |
| 11 |  Nigeria | 215,000 |
| 12 |  France | 185,000 |
| 13 |  Lithuania | 168,000 |
| 14 |  Portugal | 165,000 |
| 15 |  United States | 161,000 |
| 16 |  Spain | 159,000 |
| 17 |  Australia | 153,000 |
| 18 |  Philippines | 153,000 |
| 19 |  Zimbabwe | 128,000 |
| 20 |  Bulgaria | 128,000 |
| 21 |  Sri Lanka | 126,000 |
| 22 |  Jamaica | 123,000 |
| 23 |  Kenya | 121,000 |
| 24 |  Ghana | 114,000 |
| 25 |  Brazil | 101,000 |
| 26 |  Somalia | 99,000 |
| 27 |  Hungary | 98,000 |
| 28 |  Canada | 95,000 |
| 29 |  Latvia | 89,000 |
| 30 |  Afghanistan | 79,000 |
| 31 |  Nepal | 76,000 |
| 32 |  Iran | 72,000 |
| 33 |  Slovakia | 72,000 |
| 34 |  Turkey | 71,000 |
| 35 |  Netherlands | 68,000 |
| 36 |  Iraq | 67,000 |
| 37 |  New Zealand | 67,000 |
| 38 |  Greece | 66,000 |
| 39 |  Malaysia | 61,000 |
| 40 |  Russia | 59,000 |
| 41 |  Cyprus | 57,000 |
| 42 |  Thailand | 54,000 |
| 43 |  Uganda | 52,000 |
| 44 |  Taiwan | 49,000 |
| 45 |  Syria | 48,000 |
| 46 |  Albania | 47,000 |
| 47 |  Singapore | 44,000 |
| 48 |  Czech Republic | 44,000 |
| 49 |  Sweden | 42,000 |
| 50 |  Egypt | 39,000 |
| 51 |  Japan | 39,000 |
| 52 |  Ukraine | 38,000 |
| 53 |  Colombia | 38,000 |
| 54 |  Belgium | 35,000 |
| 55 |  Mauritius | 34,000 |
| 56 |  Saudi Arabia | 33,000 |
| 57 |  Sudan | 33,000 |
| 58 |  Kosovo | 29,000 |
| 59 |  Zambia | 29,000 |
| 60 |  Malta | 27,000 |
| 61 |  Vietnam | 27,000 |
In the 1980s to 1990s, around 12 to 13% of births were born to foreign-born mothers. In 2004, this had risen to 20% of births being born to foreign-born mothers.[41] The fertility rate among non-UK born women was 1.98 and among UK born women 1.50 in 2020.
| Country of birth from 1951 to 2011 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country of birth | Year | |||||||||||||
| 1951[148] | 1961[148] | 1971[149] | 1981[150] | 1991[151] | 2001[148] | 2011[148] | ||||||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Europe | – | – | – | – | 52,325,821 | 96.71% | 52,939,273 | 96.13% | 53,960,525 | 95.57% | – | – | ||
 United Kingdom | 48,168,300 | 95.8% | 50,233,900 | 95.1% | 51,016,100 | 94.29% | 51,706,978 | 93.89% | 52,659,965 | 93.27% | 54,216,400 | 91.7% | 55,188,698 | 87.34% |
| Other Europe | – | – | – | – | 1,309,721 | 2.4% | 1,232,295, | 2.2% | 1,300,560 | 2.3% | ||||
| Republic of Ireland | – | – | – | – | 693,435 | 1.28% | 607,428 | 1.10% | 627,930 | 1.11% | ||||
| Other EEC/EU | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 497,985 | 0.88% | ||||
| Other Europe | – | – | – | – | 616,286 | 1.13% | 624,867 | 1.13% | 174,645 | 0.30% | ||||
| Asia | – | – | – | – | 547,340 | 1.01% | 765,383 | 1.38% | 925,725 | 1.63% | – | – | ||
| Republic of India | – | – | – | – | 313,630 | 0.57% | 391,874 | 0.71% | 410,008 | 0.72% | ||||
| Republic of Pakistan | – | – | – | – | 137,112 | 0.25% | 188,198 | 0.34% | 234,312 | 0.41% | ||||
| Republic of Bangladesh | – | – | – | – | – | – | 48,517 | – | 105,066 | 0.18% | ||||
| China | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 23,998 | – | ||||
| Other Asia | – | – | – | – | 96,598 | 0.17% | 136,794 | 0.24% | 152,341 | 0.26% | ||||
| Africa | – | – | – | – | 155,738 | 0.28% | 290,453 | 0.52% | 332,195 | 0.58% | – | – | ||
| East Africa | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 221,170 | 0.39% | ||||
| Other Africa | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 111,025 | 0.2% | ||||
| Caribbean and Americas | – | – | – | – | 296,347 | 0.54% | 295,179 | 0.53% | 264,781 | 0.46% | – | – | ||
| Old Commonwealth | – | – | – | – | 136,148 | 0.25% | 152,747 | 0.27% | 180,828 | 0.32% | – | – | ||
| Other (New Commonwealth) | – | – | – | – | 114,521 | 0.21% | 162,358 | 0.29% | 194,647 | 0.34% | – | – | ||
| Other: Total[152] | – | – | – | – | 526,587 | 0.97% | 461,410 | 0.83% | 600,065 | 1.06% | – | – | ||
| Foreign-born: Total | 2,118,600 | 4.2% | 2,573,500 | 4.9% | 3,190,300 | 5.8% | 3,429,100 | 6.2% | 3,835,400 | 6.7% | 4,896,600 | 8.3% | 7,993,480 | 12.7% |
| Total: | 50,286,900 | 100% | 52,807,400 | 100% | 54,102,502 | 100% | 55,066,803 | 100% | 56,458,766 | 100% | 59,113,000 | 100% | 63,182,178 | 100% |
| TFR by country of birth[153][d][e] | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country of birth | Year | |||||||||||
| 1971 | 1979 | 1981 | 1983 | 1985 | 1987 | 1989 | 1991 | 1993 | 1995 | 1997 | 2001 | |
| United Kingdom | 2.30 | – | 1.70 | 1.70 | 1.70 | 1.80 | 1.80 | 1.80 | 1.70 | 1.70 | 1.65 | 1.6 |
| New Commonwealth | 4.00 | 3.50 | 2.90 | 2.80 | 2.90 | 2.80 | 2.70 | 2.90 | 2.80 | 2.96 | 3.09 | 2.8 |
| India | 4.30 | 3.90 | 3.10 | 2.80 | 2.90 | 2.70 | 2.40 | 2.60 | 2.20 | 2.19 | 2.32 | 2.3 |
| Pakistan, Bangladesh | 9.30 | 7.10 | 6.50 | 6.10 | 5.60 | 5.20 | 4.70 | 5.00 | 5.10 | 5.20 | – | – |
| Pakistan | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4.8 | – | – | 5.30 | 4.7 |
| Bangladesh | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3.9 | – | – | 4.83 | 3.9 |
| East Africa | 2.7 | – | 2.1 | 2 | 2.1 | 1 | 1.9 | 2 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.76 | 1.6 |
| Other Africa | 4.2 | – | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.58 | 3.52 | 2.0 |
| West Indies | 3.4 | 2.5 | 2 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.33 | 2.57 | – |
| Mediterranean | – | – | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 1.89 | 1.8 | – |
| Hong Kong, Far East | 2.70 | – | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.39 | – |
| Other New Commonwealth | – | – | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2 | 2.63 | 2.94 | 2.2 |
| Rest of the World | – | – | 2.00 | 1.90 | 2.00 | 1.90 | 1.90 | 1.90 | 1.90 | 2.04 | 2.09 | 1.8 |
| Total: | 2.38 | 1.84 | 1.80 | 1.76 | 1.78 | 1.81 | 1.80 | 1.82 | 1.77 | 1.72 | 1.73 | 1.65 |
Population movements of the country have fluctuated over time, in the 19th century with the urbanisation of the country, large amounts of people moved to London and nearby industrial cities, but in recent years there has been a general trend of 'de-urbanisation' as parts of the population have moved back to the countryside. An example of recent large scale internal movement in the 21st century has been the departure of 220,000White British Londoners to other areas of rural England andWales over the 2000s[154] and over the 2010s around a total of 550,000 people left the city.[155] Demographically by age, the people leaving the city more than entering tend to be in their 30s and 40s while people entering in their 20s.[155]
| Ethnic group | 1981 estimates[156] | 1991 census[157][t 1] | 2001 census[158][159][160] | 2011 census[161][162][163][164] | 2021/2022 census[165][166][167][168][f] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| White: Total | 52,609,977 | 96% | 53,062,288 | 94.5% | 54,153,898 | 92.1% | 55,073,145 | 87.2% | 55,592,837 | 83.0% |
| White:British | – | – | – | – | 52,728,717 | 89.7% | 52,320,080 | 82.8% | 51,406,667 | 76.8% |
| White:Irish | – | – | 837,464 | 1.5% | ||||||
| White:Gypsy / Traveller / Irish Traveller | – | – | – | – | 1,710 | – | 62,981 | 0.1% | 73,721 | 0.1% |
| White: Roma | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 102,510 | 0.1% |
| White:Other | – | – | – | – | 1,423,471 | 2.4% | 2,690,084 | 4.3% | 4,009,940 | 6.0% |
| Asian / Asian British: Total | 1,282,062 | 2.4% | 1,911,922 | 3.5% | 2,578,826 | 4.4% | 4,373,661 | 6.9% | 5,758,104 | 8.6% |
| Asian / Asian British:Indian | 627,842 | 1.2% | 876,997 | 1.6% | 1,053,411 | 1.79% | 1,452,156 | 2.3% | 1,927,150 | 2.9% |
| Asian / Asian British:Pakistani | 344,529 | 0.6% | 500,295 | 0.9% | 747,285 | 1.27% | 1,174,602 | 1.9% | 1,662,286 | 2.5% |
| Asian / Asian British:Bangladeshi | 87,762 | 0.2% | 171,516 | 0.3% | 283,063 | 0.48% | 451,529 | 0.7% | 652,535 | 1.0% |
| Asian / Asian British:Chinese | 111,488 | 0.2% | 160,806 | 0.3% | 247,403 | 0.42% | 433,150 | 0.7% | 502,216 | 0.8% |
| Asian / Asian British:Other | 110,441 | 0.2% | 202,308 | 0.4% | 247,664 | 0.42% | 862,224 | 1.4% | 1,013,917 | 1.5% |
| Black / Black British: Total[t 2] | 707,675 | 1.3% | 929,633 | 1.7% | 1,148,738 | 2% | 1,905,506 | 3% | 2,485,724 | 3.7% |
| Black / Black British:African | 141,385 | 0.3% | 219,169 | 0.4% | 485,277 | 0.87% | 1,021,973 | 1.6% | 1,555,086 | 2.4% |
| Black / Black British:Caribbean | 422,522 | 0.8% | 522,242 | 0.9% | 565,876 | 0.96% | 599,197 | 0.9% | 629,897 | 0.9% |
| Black / Black British:Other | 143,768 | 0.3% | 188,222 | 0.4% | 97,585 | 0.17% | 284,336 | 0.5% | 300,741 | 0.4% |
| Mixed / British Mixed | – | – | – | – | 677,117 | 1.2% | 1,250,414 | 2% | 1,793,257 | 2.7% |
| Other: Total | 214,001 | 0.4% | 302,199 | 0.5% | 230,615 | 0.4% | 580,049 | 0.9% | 1,310,636 | 2.0% |
| Total: | 54,813,715 | 100% | 56,206,042 | 100% | 58,789,194 | 100% | 63,182,775 | 100% | 66,940,563 | 100% |
Note:
| Number | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| 1939*[172] | 7,000 | — |
| 1951* | 50,000 | 0.1% |
| 1961* | 400,000 | 0.8% |
| 1971* | 1,370,000 | 2.5% |
| 1981* | 2,090,000 | 3.9% |
| 1986* | 2,470,000 | 4.5% |
| 1991 | 3,015,050 | 5.5% |
| 1993* | 3,200,000 | 5.7% |
| 1998* | 3,700,000 | 6.5% |
| 2000* | 4,040,000 | 7.1% |
| 2001 | 4,635,296 | 7.88% |
| 2011 | 8,108,626 | 12.83% |
| 2021/2022 | 11,347,726 | 16.95% |
Geographic distribution
![White: British (81.5%)[h]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWhite_British_percentage_UK_wide_2011.svg)
![White: Irish (0.95%)[h]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aCounties_of_the_UK_Irish.svg)
Age structure of ethnic groups
Ethnicity of school pupils
| Ethnic group | School year[173][174][175][176] | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967[177] | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2021 | |||||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| White: Total | – | – | 6,648,681 | 84.2% | 6,406,400 | 82.9% | 6,204,628 | 80.3% | 6,245,235 | 77.8% | 7,001,982 | 73.5% |
| White:British | – | – | 6,468,459 | 82% | 6,132,309 | 79.4% | 5,867,768 | 75.9% | 5,763,533 | 71.8% | 6,313,543 | 66.3% |
| White:Irish | – | – | 26,100 | 0.3% | 23,620 | 0.3% | 21,805 | 0.3% | 21,127 | 0.3% | 22,994 | 0.2% |
| White: Roma/Irish Traveller | – | – | 6,500 | – | 13,295 | 0.2% | 21,308 | 0.3% | 29,184 | 0.4% | 36,845 | 0.4% |
| White:Other | – | – | 147,622 | 1.9% | 237,176 | 3.1% | 293,747 | 3.8% | 431,391 | 5.4% | 628,600 | 6.6% |
| Asian / Asian British: Total | – | – | 491,953 | 6.2% | 587,288 | 7.6% | 685,135 | 8.9% | 792,382 | 9.9% | 1,083,920 | 11.4% |
| Asian / Asian British:Indian | – | – | 156,563 | 2% | 165,320 | 2.1% | 175,964 | 2.3% | 203,785 | 2.5% | 299,136 | 3.1% |
| Asian / Asian British:Pakistani | – | – | 189,283 | 2.4% | 226,285 | 2.9% | 267,230 | 3.5% | 309,078 | 3.8% | 398,789 | 4.2% |
| Asian / Asian British:Bangladeshi | – | – | 72,473 | 0.9% | 90,161 | 1.2% | 106,800 | 1.4% | 121,100 | 1.5% | 156,301 | 1.64% |
| Asian / Asian British:Chinese | – | – | 25,902 | 0.3% | 27,893 | 0.4% | 28,766 | 0.4% | 33,342 | 0.4% | 53,318 | 0.55% |
| Asian / Asian British:Other | – | – | 47,732 | 0.6% | 77,629 | 1% | 106,375 | 1.4% | 125,077 | 1.6% | 176,376 | 1.85% |
| Black / Black British: Total | – | – | 247,024 | 3.1% | 298,391 | 3.9% | 348,918 | 4.5% | 400,528 | 5% | 502,344 | 5.2% |
| Black:Caribbean | – | – | 96,695 | 1.22% | 92,876 | 1.2% | 92,076 | 1.2% | 87,057 | 1.1% | 84,024 | 0.88% |
| Black:African | – | – | 122,429 | 1.55% | 172,400 | 2.2% | 215,812 | 2.8% | 263,079 | 3.3% | 352,285 | 3.7% |
| Black:Other | – | – | 27,900 | 0.35% | 33,115 | 0.4% | 41,030 | 0.5% | 50,392 | 0.6% | 66,035 | 0.69% |
| Mixed / British Mixed | – | – | 186,314 | 2.4% | 242,511 | 3.1% | 305,936 | 4% | 382,730 | 4.8% | 583,723 | 6.1% |
| Other: Total | – | – | 82,280 | 1% | 84,095 | 1.1% | 104,187 | 1.3% | 129,536 | 1.6% | 199,770 | 2.1% |
| Unclassified | – | – | 230,573 | 2.9% | 104,012 | 1.3% | 77,862 | 1% | 81,146 | 1% | 153,499 | 1.6% |
| Non-White: Total | 144,000 | – | 1,007,571 | 15.8% | 1,212,285 | 1,444,176 | 1,705,176 | 2,369,757 | 26.5% | |||
| Total: | – | 100% | 7,891,306 | 100% | 7,723,472 | 100% | 7,726,651 | 100% | 8,031,557 | 100% | 9,526,070 | 100% |
Ethnicity of live births and total fertility rate
| Ethnic Group | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005[179] | 2011 | 2015 | 2019 | 2023[180] | ||||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number |
| White: Total | 451,514 | 69.5% (80.3%) | 536,021 | 74.49% | 507,829 | 72.29% | 452,248 | 70.67% | 391,558 | 66.02% |
| White:British | 418,052 | 64.4% (75.2%[i]) | 476,328 | 66.19% | 432,114 | 62.05% | 374,056 | 58.45% | 328,247 | 55.34% |
| White:Other | 33,462 | 5.1% | 59,693 | 8.29% | 75,715 | 10.87% | 78,192 | 12.22% | 63,311 | 10.67% |
| Asian / Asian British: Total | 56,065 | 8.7% | 76,599 | 10.64% | 76,976 | 11.05% | 73,874 | 11.54% | 86,126 | 14.52% |
| Asian / Asian British:Indian | 16,053 | 2.5% | 22,725 | 3.15% | 21,582 | 3.09% | 20,627 | 3.22% | 27,908 | 4.70% |
| Asian / Asian British:Pakistani | 24,290 | 3.7% | 27,948 | 3.88% | 28,142 | 4.04% | 27,573 | 4.31% | 28.686 | 4.84% |
| Asian / Asian British:Bangladeshi | 8,241 | 1.3% | 9,847 | 1.36% | 9,889 | 1.42% | 9,505 | 1.49% | 10,999 | 1.85% |
| Asian / Asian British:Other | 7,481 | 1.2% | 16,079 | 2.23% | 17,363 | 2.49% | 16,169 | 2.52% | 18,533 | 3.12% |
| Black / Black British: Total | 32,701 | 5% | 36,151 | 5.02% | 33,461 | 4.8% | 30,846 | 4.81% | 37,184 | 6.27% |
| Black:African | 19,756 | 3% | 24,457 | 3.39% | 23,483 | 3.37% | 21,589 | 3.37% | 28,183 | 4.75% |
| Black:Caribbean | 7,517 | 1.2% | 6,943 | 0.96% | 5,964 | 0.85% | 5,480 | 0.86% | 4,932 | 0.83% |
| Black:Other | 5,428 | 0.8% | 4,751 | 0.66% | 4,014 | 0.57% | 3,777 | 0.59% | 4,069 | 0.69% |
| Mixed / British Mixed | 22,606 | 3.5% | 34,643 | 4.81% | 40,433 | 5.8% | 41,918 | 6.54% | 40,345 | 6.80% |
| Other: Total | 15,232 | 2.4% | 13,320 | 1.85% | 15,625 | 2.24% | 15,523 | 2.42% | 14,904 | 2.51% |
| Not Stated | 70,303 | 10.8% | 22,848 | 3.17% | 22,041 | 3.16% | 25,578 | 4.00% | 23,012 | 3.88% |
| Total: | 649,371 | 100% | 719,582 | 100% | 696,365 | 100% | 639,987 | 100% | 593,129 | 100% |
Various studies andprojections have been made regarding the future ethnic composition of the United Kingdom.
A recent report by Professor Matt Goodwin of theUniversity of Buckingham forecasts significant demographic changes over the coming decades. According to the projections, the proportion of individuals identifying as White British is expected to decline from approximately 73% of the population to 57% by 2050, and fall below 50% by 2063, thus becoming aminority group. The report further estimates that by the end of the 21st century, the White British population may constitute around 33.7% of the total UK population.
It also projects a substantial increase in the share of the population comprisingforeign-born individuals andsecond-generation immigrants—from under 20% to 33.5% within the next 25 years. By 2100, it is predicted that around 60% of the UK population will either have been born outside the United Kingdom or have at least one parent who was an immigrant.[181]
In 2010, academicDavid Coleman produced research postulating a future demographic decline of theWhite British in Britain, indicating that they would become a minority in Birmingham and London during the 2020s.[182] He also estimated that around 2056 to 2066, the trend of a declining share of the white populace will result in the United Kingdom having an overall white minority.[183][184]
InProspect, he outlined four projections for a majority-minority scenario within the United Kingdom;[185]
In 2001, the question of religious adherence was asked for the first time since 1851 in the United Kingdom Census.[186]
The traditional religion in the United Kingdom is Christianity. In England theestablished church is theChurch of England (Anglican). In Scotland, theChurch of Scotland, aPresbyterian Church, is regarded as the 'national church', but there is not an established church.
InWales there is no established church, with theChurch in Wales having beendisestablished in 1920. In Ireland, theChurch of Ireland was disestablished in 1871. In Northern Ireland and parts of Western Scotland there are lingeringsectarian divides betweenRoman Catholic and Protestant communities.[187]
The table below shows data regarding religion for the 2001, 2011 and 2021/22 censuses:
| Religion | 2001[188][189][190][191] | 2011[192][193][194][195] | 2021/2022[196][197][198] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Christianity | 42,079,417 | 71.58% | 37,583,962 | 59.49% | 31,149,224 | 46.53% |
| Islam | 1,591,126 | 2.71% | 2,786,635 | 4.41% | 3,998,875 | 5.97% |
| Hinduism | 558,810 | 0.95% | 835,394 | 1.32% | 1,066,894 | 1.59% |
| Sikhism | 336,149 | 0.57% | 432,429 | 0.68% | 535,517 | 0.79% |
| Judaism | 266,740 | 0.45% | 269,568 | 0.43% | 277,613 | 0.41% |
| Buddhism | 151,816 | 0.26% | 261,584 | 0.41% | 289,551 | 0.43% |
| Other religion | 178,837 | 0.30% | 262,774 | 0.42% | 388,789 | 0.58% |
| No religion | 13,626,299 | 23.18% | 16,221,509 | 25.67% | 25,273,945 | 37.75% |
| Religion not stated | 4,528,323 | 7.17% | 3,960,980 | 5.91% | ||
| Total population | 58,789,194 | 100.00% | 63,182,178 | 100.00% | 66,940,560 | 100.00% |
In the 2011 Census, rather than select one of the specified religions offered on the Census form, many people chose to write in their own religion. Some of these religions were reassigned to one of the main religions offered. In England and Wales, 241,000 people belonged to religious groups which did not fall into any of the main religions.[199] The largest of these werePagans (56,620),Spiritualists (39,061) andJains (20,288).[200] Despite its high-profile nature, there were only 2,418Scientologists.[201]
The census recorded 176,632 people stating their religion asJedi Knight and 6,242 people asHeavy Metal[202] after a campaign byMetal Hammer.[200] These returns were classified as "No religion", along withAtheist, Agnostic,Humanist, and Free Thinker.[202] Those who tickedHeathen, who had been categorised as "no religion" in 2001, were categorised as "other".[202] It is unclear how the ONS treated people who ticked "Other" but did not write in any religion.[202]
In 2012, theBritish Social Attitudes Survey found the highest number to be non-religious (48%) followed by Christians (46%) with another six per cent identifying otherwise. Discrepancies found between surveys may be the result of differences in phrasing, question order, and data collection method.[203]
The Muslim population in the United Kingdom, currently estimated at approximately 7% of the population, is projected to increase significantly in the coming decades. According to recent demographic forecasts, the proportion of Muslims in the UK is expected to rise to 11.2% within the next 25 years and to 19.2% by the end of the 21st century.[204]
Under a “high Muslim migration scenario”—in which the UK experiences sustained above-average levels of immigration from Muslim-majority countries—the proportion of Muslims in the population could reach 25% by 2100. In this scenario, it is further projected that nearly one in three individuals under the age of 40 could identify as Muslim by the end of the century.[205]
In 2017,Pew Research Center found that by 2050, in all scenarios, the Muslim population of the United Kingdom will rise. Depending on the scenario, the percentage of the population in 2050 which will be Muslim will either be 9.7% in a zero migration scenario, 16.7% in a medium migration scenario or 17.2% in a high migration scenario.[206]
The United Kingdom's de facto official language is English, which is spoken as afirst language by 95% of the population. Six regional languages—Scots,Ulster-Scots,Welsh,Cornish, Irish andScottish Gaelic—are protected under theEuropean Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Abilities in these languages, other than Cornish, for those aged three and above were recorded in the 2011 census as follows.[207][208][209]
| Ability | 2011 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | ||||||||
| Welsh | Scottish Gaelic | Scots | Irish | Ulster-Scots | ||||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Understands but does not speak, read or write | 157,792 | 5.15% | 23,357 | 0.46% | 267,412 | 5.22% | 70,501 | 4.06% | 92,040 | 5.30% |
| Speaks, reads and writes | 430,717 | 14.06% | 32,191 | 0.63% | 1,225,622 | 23.95% | 71,996 | 4.15% | 17,228 | 0.99% |
| Speaks but does not read or write | 80,429 | 2.63% | 18,966 | 0.37% | 179,295 | 3.50% | 24,677 | 1.42% | 10,265 | 0.59% |
| Speaks and reads but does not write | 45,524 | 1.49% | 6,218 | 0.12% | 132,709 | 2.59% | 7,414 | 0.43% | 7,801 | 0.45% |
| Reads but does not speak or write | 44,327 | 1.45% | 4,646 | 0.09% | 107,025 | 2.09% | 5,659 | 0.33% | 11,911 | 0.69% |
| Other combination of skills | 40,692 | 1.33% | 1,678 | 0.03% | 17,381 | 0.34% | 4,651 | 0.27% | 95 | 0.06% |
| No skills | 2,263,975 | 73.90% | 5,031,167 | 98.30% | 3,188,779 | 62.30% | 1,550,813 | 89.35% | 1,595,507 | 91.92% |
| Total | 3,063,456 | 100.00% | 5,118,223 | 100.00% | 5,118,223 | 100.00% | 1,735,711 | 100.00% | 1,735,711 | 100.00% |
| Can speak | 562,016 | 18.35% | 57,602 | 1.13% | 1,541,693 | 30.12% | 104,943 | 6.05% | 35,404 | 2.04% |
| Has some ability | 799,481 | 26.10% | 87,056 | 1.70% | 1,929,444 | 37.70% | 184,898 | 10.65% | 140,204 | 8.08% |
Cornish is spoken by around 2,500 people. In the 2011 census, 464 respondents aged three and over in Cornwall said that Cornish was their main language, amounting to 0.09% of the population of Cornwall aged three and over.
After English, Polish was the second most common language given in the United Kingdom census 2011. 618,091 respondents aged three and over said that Polish was their main language, amounting to 1.01% of the population of the United Kingdom aged three and over.
The French language is spoken in some parts of the Channel Islands although the islands, like the Isle of Man, are not part of the United Kingdom.[210]British Sign Language is also common.
| Language proficiency | England and Wales | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011[211] | 2021[212] | |||
| Number | % | Number | % | |
| Main language is English | 49,808,185 | 92.3% | 52,569,816 | 91.1% |
| Main language is not English | 4,153,266 | 7.7% | 5,134,447 | 8.9% |
| Can speak English very well | 1,722,197 | 3.2% | 2,255,542 | 3.9% |
| Can speak English well | 1,567,919 | 2.9% | 1,838,559 | 3.2% |
| Cannot speak English well | 725,639 | 1.3% | 879,782 | 1.5% |
| Cannot speak English | 137,511 | 0.3% | 160,564 | 0.3% |
| Total | 53,961,451 | 100% | 57,704,263 | 100% |
Respondents to the 2011 UK census gave their national identities as follows.
| National identity | Years | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011[213][214][215] | 2021[216] | ||||||
| United Kingdom | Country | Country | |||||
| England | Scotland | Wales | N. Ireland | England | Wales | ||
 English only | 51.41% | 60.38% | 2.28% | 11.22% | 0.60% | 15.3% | 9.1% |
 Scottish only | 5.93% | 0.79% | 62.43% | 0.50% | 0.37% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
 Welsh only | 3.26% | 0.55% | 0.15% | 57.51% | 0.06% | 0.3% | 55.2% |
| Northern Irish only | 0.81% | 0.21% | 0.33% | 0.14% | 20.94% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
.svg) British only | 18.77% | 19.19% | 8.37% | 16.95% | 39.89% | 56.8% | 18.5% |
| + English and British only | 7.82% | 9.09% | 1.26% | 1.54% | 0.27% | 14.3% | 1.8% |
| + Scottish and British only | 1.67% | 0.15% | 18.29% | 0.07% | 0.09% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| + Welsh and British only | 0.44% | 0.11% | 0.06% | 7.11% | 0.02% | 0.2% | 8.1% |
| Northern Irish and British only | 0.22% | 0.03% | 0.15% | 0.02% | 6.17% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Other combination of UK identities only (excludes Irish) | 0.45% | 0.37% | 1.01% | 1.10% | 0.13% | 0.4% | 1.3% |
| Other identity and at least one UK identity | 0.97% | 0.90% | 1.25% | 0.43% | 3.05% | 1.9% | 1.1% |
 Irish only | 1.31% | 0.64% | 0.41% | 0.32% | 25.26% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Other | 6.94% | 7.59% | 4.01% | 3.10% | 3.12% | 9.5% | 4% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
In the present day each country of the United Kingdom has a separate education system, with power over education matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland being devolved.
Universal state education in England and Wales was introduced for primary level in 1870 and secondary level in 1900.[217] Education is mandatory from the ages of 5 to 18. The majority of children are educated in state-sector schools,[218] only a small proportion of which select on the grounds of academic ability. Despite a fall in actual numbers, the proportion of children in England attending private schools rose slightly from 7.1% to 7.3% between 2004 and 2007.[218]
Scotland first legislated for universal provision of education in 1696. Four per cent of children in Scotland attend private schools, a rate which has remained relatively stable since 2015.[219][220]
In Wales, one of the most notable distinctive features of education in Wales is the emphasis on the Welsh language – lessons in which are compulsory for all until the age of 16. A significant minority of students (15.7% in the 2014\15 academic year) were taught primarily through the medium of Welsh.[221]
| Level of qualification | England and Wales (aged 16 and over, not in education) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001[222] | 2011[223] | 2021[224] | ||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| No qualifications | 10,937,042 | 29.1 | 10,307,327 | 22.7% | 8,827,472 | 18.2% |
| Level 1 and entry level qualifications | 6,230,033 | 16.6 | 6,047,384 | 13.3% | 4,679,223 | 9.6% |
| Level 2 qualifications | 7,288,074 | 19.4 | 6,938,433 | 15.3% | 6,493,490 | 13.4% |
| Apprenticeship | – | – | 1,631,777 | 3.6% | 2,590,252 | 5.3% |
| Level 3 qualifications | 3,110,135 | 8.3 | 5,617,802 | 12.3% | 8,225,629 | 16.9% |
| Level 4 qualifications or above | 7,432,962 | 19.8 | 12,383,477 | 27.2% | 16,413,231 | 33.8% |
| Other qualifications | 2,609,192 | 6.9 | 2,570,580 | 5.7% | 1,337,076 | 2.8% |
| Total | 37,607,438 | 100% | 45,496,780 | 100% | 48,566,373 | 100% |
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link){{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link){{cite web}}:Missing or empty|url= (help){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) CS1 maint: publisher location (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) CS1 maint: publisher location (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)As recently as 1939 the permanent Asian and Black population of the United Kingdom was officially estimated at about 7,000 people.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)In January, 1967 there were about 144,000 immigrant pupils from the West Indies, Africa, India and Pakistan in schools with ten or more immigrant pupils on roll.
