Deaths projected to outnumber births in UK every year from 2026

Deaths are projected to outnumber births in the UK every year from 2026 and the population is expected to grow at a slower rate over the next few decades than previously reported, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). About 1.7 million people are projected to join the population between 2024 and 2034, pushing the total up 2.5% from 69.3 million to 71 million, before it starts to decrease in the mid-2050s. This is smaller than the increase included in ONS figures published last year, which projected a rise of 3 million over the same period and the population jumping 4.3% to a total of 72.2 million by 2034. The projections have been revised downwards to reflect the recent sharp fall in net migration, as well as lower fertility rates in the future. James Robards, ONS head of household and population projections, said: “Our latest projections indicate slower population growth than previously projected. “This is mainly due to lower migration assumptions – reflective of the recent steep fall in net migration – and lower fertility assumptions. At the UK level, the population is projected to peak in the 2050s before decreasing.” The projections are not forecasts nor predictions and are based on current and past trends. UK population growth is projected to slow even further during the 2030s and 2040s, before peaking at 72.5 million in 2054 and then going into decline, dropping to 72.1 million by 2064 and 71.4 million in 2074. …