Migration Fuels Record England and Wales Population Growth

The population of England and Wales increased by approximately 707,000 in the year to June 2024, reaching an estimated 61.8 million—the second-largest annual rise since records began in 1949. Official ONS data attribute 98% of this growth to net international migration, with 1.14 million arrivals and about 452,000 departures, while natural change contributed around 30,000. Political leaders from Labour, the Conservatives, and Reform UK have expressed concerns over the impact on public services, housing, and social cohesion, with promises of tougher immigration controls and warnings about quality of life. London recorded the highest rates of both natural change and net migration, although some areas, such as the Isles of Scilly and parts of London, experienced population declines. The figures have intensified national debate over migration policy and its societal effects. The trend underscores the dominant role of migration in shaping demographic shifts in England and Wales.