UK population to increase by 9.6m over 25 years

The UK population is likely to top 70 million within the next 15 years.

The UK population is projected to increase by 9.6 million over the next 25 years, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The ONS predicts that the number of people in the country will rise from the estimated 63.7 million calculated in mid-2012 to 73.3 million in mid-2037. The population is anticipated to reach 70 million in 2027.

A projected natural increase (where there are more births than deaths) accounts for 57 per cent of the projected increase over the next 25 years, says the ONS.

Over the ten year period to mid-2022, the UK population is projected to increase by 4.3 million to 68.0 million, while the population is expected to continue ageing with the average age rising from 39.7 years in 2012 to 40.6 years in mid-2022 and 42.8 by mid-2037.

The number of people aged 80 and over in the UK is projected to more than double to 6 million by mid-2037.