It means natural change in the UK population - the number of births minus the number of deaths - is now at its lowest level since 2004. Migration has been the main factor pushing the UK population up to 66.4 million, according to the Office for National Statistics, which said it had made a bigger impact than births and deaths. The 0.6% rate of total growth in 2018, however, has remained stable for two years running, and is lower than any year since 2004. In 2017, net migration was at its highest level on record – 690,000 people moved from outside the EU into Britain last year. Environment charity Population Matters said the UK figures were unsustainable.
Migration has been the main factor pushing the UK population up to 66.4 million, according to the Office for National Statistics, which said it had made a bigger impact than births and deaths. The 0.6% rate of total growth in 2018, however, has remained stable for two years running, and is lower than any year since 2004. In 2017, net migration was at its highest level on record – 690,000 people moved from outside the EU into Britain last year. Environment charity Population Matters said the UK figures were unsustainable.