Annual population growth in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Annual population growth was 503,650 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
503,650
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
41st
of 236 countries
All-time high
516,193
in 2015
All-time low
-25,314
in 1977
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual population growth in United Kingdom, 1951–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, annual population growth in United Kingdom stood at 503,650.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.3% on the previous year and up 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual population growth in United Kingdom peaked at 516,193 in 2015 and was at its lowest, -25,314, in 1977.
That places United Kingdom 41st out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual population growth in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 225,801 | — |
| 1952 | 149,410 | -33.8% |
| 1953 | 230,804 | +54.5% |
| 1954 | 231,211 | +0.2% |
| 1955 | 218,503 | -5.5% |
| 1956 | 223,709 | +2.4% |
| 1957 | 255,453 | +14.2% |
| 1958 | 279,729 | +9.5% |
| 1959 | 290,826 | +4.0% |
| 1960 | 312,082 | +7.3% |
| 1961 | 346,404 | +11.0% |
| 1962 | 387,884 | +12.0% |
| 1963 | 380,103 | -2.0% |
| 1964 | 356,191 | -6.3% |
| 1965 | 349,892 | -1.8% |
| 1966 | 317,324 | -9.3% |
| 1967 | 297,315 | -6.3% |
| 1968 | 266,993 | -10.2% |
| 1969 | 215,554 | -19.3% |
| 1970 | 207,593 | -3.7% |
| 1971 | 226,571 | +9.1% |
| 1972 | 188,867 | -16.6% |
| 1973 | 109,548 | -42.0% |
| 1974 | 35,763 | -67.4% |
| 1975 | -4,411 | -112.3% |
| 1976 | -18,996 | +330.7% |
| 1977 | -25,314 | +33.3% |
| 1978 | -276 | -98.9% |
| 1979 | 43,206 | -15754.3% |
| 1980 | 63,343 | +46.6% |
| 1981 | 22,488 | -64.5% |
| 1982 | -11,829 | -152.6% |
| 1983 | 39,299 | -432.2% |
| 1984 | 119,252 | +203.4% |
| 1985 | 155,104 | +30.1% |
| 1986 | 145,510 | -6.2% |
| 1987 | 134,095 | -7.8% |
| 1988 | 140,518 | +4.8% |
| 1989 | 155,598 | +10.7% |
| 1990 | 185,730 | +19.4% |
| 1991 | 187,332 | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 164,074 | -12.4% |
| 1993 | 141,764 | -13.6% |
| 1994 | 142,163 | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 151,432 | +6.5% |
| 1996 | 143,931 | -5.0% |
| 1997 | 148,528 | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 179,731 | +21.0% |
| 1999 | 211,841 | +17.9% |
| 2000 | 218,670 | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 230,762 | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 252,669 | +9.5% |
| 2003 | 279,621 | +10.7% |
| 2004 | 349,579 | +25.0% |
| 2005 | 426,143 | +21.9% |
| 2006 | 454,986 | +6.8% |
| 2007 | 484,766 | +6.5% |
| 2008 | 491,444 | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 478,919 | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 500,260 | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 502,803 | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 451,203 | -10.3% |
| 2013 | 428,898 | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 476,528 | +11.1% |
| 2015 | 516,193 | +8.3% |
| 2016 | 511,252 | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 461,114 | -9.8% |
| 2018 | 398,000 | -13.7% |
| 2019 | 358,485 | -9.9% |
| 2020 | 240,902 | -32.8% |
| 2021 | 316,928 | +31.6% |
| 2022 | 510,527 | +61.1% |
| 2023 | 503,650 | -1.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 503,650 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,163, 159.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 503,650 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15,382, 32.7× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual population growth in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +15754.3% | -276 | 43,206 |
| 1983 | +432.2% | -11,829 | 39,299 |
| 1976 | -330.7% | -4,411 | -18,996 |
| 1984 | +203.4% | 39,299 | 119,252 |
| 1982 | -152.6% | 22,488 | -11,829 |
| 1975 | -112.3% | 35,763 | -4,411 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 233,938 | 149,410 | 290,826 | 9 |
| 1960s | 322,974 | 215,554 | 387,884 | 10 |
| 1970s | 76,255 | -25,314 | 226,571 | 10 |
| 1980s | 96,338 | -11,829 | 155,598 | 10 |
| 1990s | 165,653 | 141,764 | 211,841 | 10 |
| 2000s | 366,756 | 218,670 | 491,444 | 10 |
| 2010s | 460,474 | 358,485 | 516,193 | 10 |
| 2020s | 393,002 | 240,902 | 510,527 | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More population data for United Kingdom
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1389 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 71,685 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2666 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.169 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.184 (2100)
- Population density 307.14 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.21 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual population growth in United Kingdom?
- Annual population growth in United Kingdom was 503,650 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual population growth recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 516,193 in 2015.
- What is the lowest annual population growth recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was -25,314 in 1977.
- How does United Kingdom rank for annual population growth?
- United Kingdom ranks 41st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual population growth rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual population growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).