UK population rises, driven by immigration

LONDON: The United Kingdom's population grew by 1 per cent in annual terms to 68.3 million as of mid-2023, mainly due to high immigration, official data showed on Tuesday. Net international migration was the main contributor to the population increase for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - which together form the UK - in the year to mid-2023, Britain's Office for National Statistics said. The natural change in population, which is the difference between births and deaths, fell by 16,300. Previous projections from the ONS suggested a negative reading would not occur until the mid-2030s. Britain has seen high immigration in recent years from economic migrants and those who arrive via irregular crossings in small boats - a hot political topic because of stretched public services after years of under-investment. Record immigration caused the population of England and Wales to rise by 610,000 in mid-2023, the largest annual rise in 75 years. — Reuters