Startling new analysis reveals that nearly one in every five people living in the United Kingdom was born overseas, marking a significant demographic shift in a relatively short period.
Revised Figures Paint New Picture of Population
The study, which examined revised immigration statistics published this week by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), found that approximately 19.6 per cent of the UK's population is now foreign-born. This is a substantial increase from the 16 per cent recorded in the last national census conducted in 2021.
This revision exposes a far greater level of population growth and turnover between 2021 and 2024 than was previously understood. The data points to a net inflow of 2.9 million non-British arrivals during this three-year period. When added to the existing non-British population, the total number surged to 13.6 million individuals.
This means that one in every 25 people currently residing in the UK has arrived within the last four years. Furthermore, the year 2022 witnessed the fastest rate of population growth the nation has seen since 1828.
Emigration Spike and Political Reactions
The changing composition of the UK's population has been driven not only by immigration but also by a sharp rise in the number of British nationals leaving the country. Between 2021 and 2024, 992,000 British nationals emigrated, a figure that is 190 per cent higher than earlier estimates.
This trend has continued, with net emigration peaking since the general election last year. In the 12 months to September 2024, a net 116,000 Britons left the UK.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp attributed this exodus to government policy, stating: ‘Keir Starmer's punishing tax rises are causing Britons to flee in record numbers. The brightest and the best are leaving the UK for places like Dubai and Milan.’
Calls for an Emergency Census and Policy Implications
The significant discrepancy between the 2021 census data and the latest ONS figures has prompted calls for an ‘emergency census’ to ensure public policy accurately reflects the nation's demographic reality.
Karl Williams of the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) emphasised the urgency, saying: ‘This new data shows just how significant recent population change has been. The combined effect of record inflows and the sharp rise in emigration has reshaped the country far more quickly than most people realise.’
He argued that precise and up-to-date population data is critical for informed decision-making on housing, public services, and local funding.
In a historic post-Brexit development, the ONS data also confirmed that migration from the EU has fallen below 100,000 for the first time since 2003, signalling a major shift in migration patterns.
