evidence: The UK population is projected to reach 70 million by mid-2026; this growth is faster than in the 2020-based projections released in January 2023 with the projected increase mainly resulting from international migration. [...] There will be an increasing number of older people; over the next 15 years the size of the UK population aged 85 years and over is projected to increase from 1.6 million (2.5% of the total population) to 2.6 million (3.5%). [...] Source: National population projections and migration statistics from the Office for National Statistics; Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)