United Kingdom
Migration, demographic change and public debate in a country experiencing rapid population change alongside a significant shift in immigration policy.
Migration and demographic change in the United Kingdom
In 2025, the United Kingdom had a total population of 69.5 million, an increase of around 17 million since 1960.
The UK population first exceeded 60 million in 2005. Population growth has mainly been driven by immigration, as the fertility rate has remained below the population replacement level for more than five decades. The last time the fertility rate reached 2.0 children per woman was in 1973. Nevertheless, fertility in the UK remains higher than in many other European countries.
While the fertility rate stood at 1.83 children per woman in 2013, it had fallen to 1.54 in 2025. It is projected to decline further to 1.52 by 2030, remaining well below the population replacement level of 2.1.
Despite declining fertility, the UK population is projected to continue growing, reaching approximately 72.5 million by 2032 and 76.6 million by 2047.
Net migration nevertheless fell sharply to 204,000 in the year ending June 2025, its lowest level since 2021. The decline followed policy changes introduced in early 2024 which restricted a number of work and study visa routes.
By June 2025, 16% of people migrating to the UK were British nationals, 9% were nationals of EU countries and 75% were nationals of non-EU countries. The most common non-EU nationalities among long-term immigrants were Indian, Pakistani, Chinese and Nigerian.
Work-related immigration also fell significantly. In the year ending June 2025, the number of work visas granted to main applicants declined by 36% to 182,553.
The most dramatic fall occurred in the Health and Care sector. Visas in this category declined by 77% to 20,519, compared with a peak of 145,823 in 2023, largely following the introduction of new migration policy measures.
At the same time, asylum applications increased. In the year ending September 2025, 110,000 people claimed asylum in the UK, a 13% increase on the previous year and the highest number recorded since 2002. The largest groups of asylum seekers came from Afghanistan, Iran and Eritrea.
Interviews from the United Kingdom
These interviews explore perceptions of migration, the political and societal forces shaping public debate, and recommendations based on the United Kingdom’s national experience.
Sources and further information
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Total population data are drawn from the World Bank.
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Fertility-rate data and projections are drawn from United Nations population data and Macrotrends.
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Population projections are drawn from UK Government population projections and technical analysis.
2022-based population projections -
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Long-term immigration and net migration statistics are drawn from the Office for National Statistics.
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Nationality data for people migrating to the United Kingdom are drawn from the Office for National Statistics.
ONS migration by nationality -
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Work-related immigration and Health and Care visa statistics are drawn from UK Government immigration system statistics.
Why do people come to the UK for work? -
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Asylum application figures and nationality data are drawn from UK Government immigration system statistics for the year ending September 2025.
Immigration system statistics: year ending September 2025
Explore perspectives from across Europe
Compare national experiences and examine how migration, integration and demographic change are understood across different European societies.