As of June 2024, the population of England and Wales has grown by more than 700,000, the second largest increase in more than 75 years.
This change is largely facilitated by international migration and natural changes (the difference between birth and death), accounting for only a small proportion.
According to the National Office for Statistics, in mid-2024, England and Wales are estimated to have 61.8 million people, up from 61.1 million in the previous year.
It was the second largest digital jump to start at least 1949, when the data began.
It only saw an increase of 821,210 times in the 12 months from mid-2022 to mid-2023.
ONS's Nigel Henretty said that the population of both countries has increased every year since mid-1982, but said the population growth rate has increased in recent years.
“Net international migration remains the main driver of this growth, continuing a long-term trend since the turn of the century,” he said.
Net International Migration – The difference between those who moved to the country and left accounted for 690,147 of the estimated population increase of 706,881, or 98% of the total.
Born slightly higher than death in the last year, which adds to the population of 29,982.
Net reduction in internal immigration – the number of people from England and Wales to other parts of the UK.