The population of the United Kingdom has grown to over 61 million for the first time, according to estimates released by the Office for National Statistics today.
The population of the UK was 61.4 million in mid-2008, up by 408,000 (0.7 per cent) on the previous year and over two million more than in mid-2001
In the seven years since 2001, the population has increased by an average of 0.5% per year. Increases in births, decreases in deaths and changes in the pattern of international migration into and out of the UK have all contributed. However, for the first time in nearly a decade, natural change (the difference between births and deaths) has overtaken net migration (the difference between long-term migration into and out of the UK) as the main contributor to population growth over a 12 month period.
In the year to mid-2008, natural change accounted for 54% of all population growth in the UK. The UK population continues to age. The number of people aged 85 and over reached a record 1.3 million in mid-2008, and one in 50 people are now aged over 85.