Britain will have biggest population in Europe

Busy: The rate of increase is the fastest since the baby boom of the Sixties, according to a statistician
12 April 2012

Britain will overtake Germany as Europe's most populated country within about 30 years.

The number of people living in the UK will hit nearly 75 million - a European record - in 2043, as high immigration, rising births and fewer deaths push up the population.

The findings, released today by Government statisticians, will increase pressure on ministers to deliver their pledge to curb immigration.

The UK is currently third in the European population table, behind Germany and France. Britain is expected to overtake France by 2031. By 2043, it will overtake Germany and have nearly 75 million residents.

An Office for National Statistics report said the population is surging and will hit 70 million by 2027 - two years earlier than predicted.

Unveiling the figures today. Ben Humberstone, head of population at the Office for National Statistics, said: "The rate of increase is the fastest since the baby boom of the Sixties. These are the trends that we have seen over the past decade projected forward over the next 25 years."

Two thirds of the increase is down to immigration, either directly through new arrivals or indirectly through higher births to migrant mothers.

The statistics show that of the people expected to be added to the UK population, about two thirds will be the result of immigration or births to women who have previously arrived from overseas. The other third will be added because of higher births and fewer deaths among existing residents.

Although there are no projections in today's figures for London, which currently has 7.8 million people, the increased UK population means that the numbers living in the capital are certain to rise sharply over the coming years.

This will put further pressure on schools, housing, transport and other public services.

The population is also projected to become older, with the median age rising from 39.7 years in 2010 to 39.9 years in 2020, and 42.2 by 2035, the figures show.

As the population gets older, the numbers in the most senior age groups will increase the fastest. There were 1.4 million people in the UK aged 85 and over last year, but this is expected to increase to 1.9 million by 2020 and to 3.5 million by 2035, more than doubling over 25 years.

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