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UK population increases by 500,000, official figures show | UK population increases by 500,000, official figures show |
(35 minutes later) | |
The UK population grew by almost half a million last year to 64,596,800, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. | |
The "above average" increase of 491,100 from mid-2013 to mid-2014 included net migration adding 259,700 to population growth, the ONS figures show. | |
This was more than "natural growth" - births minus deaths - which added 226,200. | |
The ONS said a quarter of births were to mothers born outside the UK. | |
The overall number of births was down compared with the previous year, continuing a downward trend seen since a peak in mid-2012. | |
The population increase was above average compared with rises over the last decade, the ONS said. | The population increase was above average compared with rises over the last decade, the ONS said. |
As well as net migration and natural growth, other changes and adjustments, mainly in the armed forces, accounted for an increase of 5,200 people, the ONS said. | |
Ageing population | |
The figures also found that the number and proportion of older people in the UK continued to rise. | The figures also found that the number and proportion of older people in the UK continued to rise. |
The median age of the population - the age at which half the population is younger and half the population is older - in mid-2014 was 40 years, the highest ever estimated. | The median age of the population - the age at which half the population is younger and half the population is older - in mid-2014 was 40 years, the highest ever estimated. |
There were 11.4 million people (17.7% of the population) aged 65 and over in mid-2014, up from 11.1 million (17.4%) in the previous year. | There were 11.4 million people (17.7% of the population) aged 65 and over in mid-2014, up from 11.1 million (17.4%) in the previous year. |
Of the UK's individual nations, England's population grew the most quickly during the year, growing by 450,800 people (0.84%). | |
Within England, London had the highest population growth, up 1.45%. The East and South East regions of England increased by 1.08% and 0.92% respectively. | |
Regional increases | |
The figures found that the population of Scotland increased by 19,900 (up 0.37%) to 5,347,600 and accounts for 8% of the UK's population. | |
Meanwhile Wales' population increased by 9,600 (up 0.31%) to 3,092,000 and accounts for 5% of the UK's population | |
Northern Ireland's population, which accounts for 3% of the UK's population, increased by 10,800 (up 0.59%) to 1,840,500 people/ | |
The lowest regional population increases in the year were seen in Wales, North East of England and Scotland growing by 0.31%, 0.32% and 0.37% respectively. | |
No country of the UK or region of England experienced a population decrease. |