Population estimates for England and Wales: mid-2024

National and subnational mid-year population estimates for England and Wales by administrative area, age and sex.

Main findings

• The population of England and Wales continued to grow in the year to mid-2024, reaching an estimated 61.8 million people (61,806,682). The size of the population increased by 706,900 (1.2%) from mid-2023 - 687,600 people (1.2%) for England and 19,300 people (0.6%) for Wales.
• This is a similar rate of increase to the previous two years. This takes into account recent revisions for mid-2022 and mid-2023 due to improved international and internal migration data.
• Population change is mainly determined by international migration, internal migration, births and deaths.
• Although estimated net international migration (690,100) was lower in the year to mid-2024 compared with the previous year, it continued to contribute most to population growth.
• There was a decrease in the number of births and deaths in the year to mid-2024, compared with the previous year.
• We estimate that there were 596,000 births, a decrease of 2,400 compared with mid-2023 (and the lowest since mid-2002) and that there were 566,000 deaths, a decrease of 32,000 compared with mid-2023 and the lowest since mid-2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Natural change, the difference between births and deaths, contributed an increase of 30,000.
• The highest rates of population growth were City of London (11.1%), Oadby and Wigston (3.1%), and Preston (2.9%). The greatest rates of population decrease were Isles of Scilly (-2.8%), Kensington and Chelsea (-1.4%) and Lambeth (-0.6%).

Commenting on today’s findings, the ONS’s Nigel Henretty said:

“The population of England and Wales has increased each year since mid-1982. The rate of population increase has been higher in recent years, and the rise seen in the year to mid-2024 represents the second largest annual increase in numerical terms in over 75 years.

“Net international migration continues to be the main driver of this growth, continuing the long-term trend seen since the turn of the century.”

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Note for editors

For international migration, we have used the latest long-term international migration estimates, which were published in May 2025. For internal migration, we have included previously unavailable NHS Personal Demographics Service and Higher Education Statistics Agency data.

Changes to international migration estimates have contributed the most to revisions to previous estimates. The population estimates for England and Wales have been revised upwards to: 60.3 million in mid-2022, an increase of 33,400 (0.1%) and 61.1 million in mid-2023, an increase of 245,100 (0.4%).

Admin-based population estimates (ABPEs) are being released alongside our official mid-year estimates to inform users and seek feedback as part of our transformation of population statistics. They do not replace our official mid-year population estimates and should not be used for decision making.

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