Natural population growth rate in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Natural population growth rate was 0.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Natural population growth rate in United Kingdom, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for natural population growth rate in United Kingdom is 0.1%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 14.1% on the previous year and down 84.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, natural population growth rate in United Kingdom peaked at 0.7% in 1964 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 1976.
United Kingdom ranks 178th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Natural population growth rate in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.5% | — |
| 1951 | 0.3% | -27.9% |
| 1952 | 0.4% | +32.2% |
| 1953 | 0.4% | -0.5% |
| 1954 | 0.4% | -2.5% |
| 1955 | 0.4% | -7.4% |
| 1956 | 0.4% | +10.9% |
| 1957 | 0.5% | +14.0% |
| 1958 | 0.5% | +2.3% |
| 1959 | 0.5% | +4.7% |
| 1960 | 0.6% | +11.6% |
| 1961 | 0.6% | -0.2% |
| 1962 | 0.6% | +7.3% |
| 1963 | 0.6% | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 0.7% | +13.7% |
| 1965 | 0.7% | -7.9% |
| 1966 | 0.6% | -9.6% |
| 1967 | 0.6% | +1.7% |
| 1968 | 0.5% | -17.4% |
| 1969 | 0.5% | -9.3% |
| 1970 | 0.4% | -6.2% |
| 1971 | 0.4% | -4.2% |
| 1972 | 0.3% | -35.2% |
| 1973 | 0.2% | -29.4% |
| 1974 | 0.1% | -37.8% |
| 1975 | 0.1% | -52.0% |
| 1976 | -0.0% | -132.1% |
| 1977 | 0.0% | -102.8% |
| 1978 | 0.0% | +5960.0% |
| 1979 | 0.1% | +219.1% |
| 1980 | 0.2% | +58.5% |
| 1981 | 0.1% | -21.5% |
| 1982 | 0.1% | -21.0% |
| 1983 | 0.1% | +10.4% |
| 1984 | 0.1% | +37.0% |
| 1985 | 0.1% | -8.3% |
| 1986 | 0.2% | +22.0% |
| 1987 | 0.2% | +38.5% |
| 1988 | 0.2% | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 0.2% | -12.7% |
| 1990 | 0.3% | +28.5% |
| 1991 | 0.2% | -5.9% |
| 1992 | 0.2% | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 0.2% | -32.3% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | +19.3% |
| 1995 | 0.1% | -29.9% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | +11.6% |
| 1997 | 0.2% | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | -10.4% |
| 1999 | 0.1% | -23.8% |
| 2000 | 0.1% | +7.1% |
| 2001 | 0.1% | -4.8% |
| 2002 | 0.1% | -4.8% |
| 2003 | 0.1% | +31.6% |
| 2004 | 0.2% | +57.0% |
| 2005 | 0.2% | +6.4% |
| 2006 | 0.3% | +24.7% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | +12.2% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 0.4% | +7.9% |
| 2010 | 0.4% | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 0.4% | +4.6% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | -16.7% |
| 2014 | 0.3% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | -16.2% |
| 2016 | 0.3% | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 0.2% | -16.4% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | -22.9% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | -5.9% |
| 2020 | -0.0% | -103.9% |
| 2021 | 0.0% | -814.1% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | +28.7% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | -14.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.1%, 45% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 0.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -0.1%. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Natural population growth rate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +5960.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2021 | +814.1% | -0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1979 | +219.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1976 | -132.1% | 0.1% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.2% | -0.0% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0% | -0.0% | 0.1% | 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)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 307.14 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.21 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is natural population growth rate in United Kingdom?
- Natural population growth rate in United Kingdom was 0.1% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest natural population growth rate recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 0.7% in 1964.
- What is the lowest natural population growth rate recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.0% in 1976.
- How does United Kingdom rank for natural population growth rate?
- United Kingdom ranks 178th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is natural population growth rate rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 84.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Natural population growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Births minus deaths, as a share of the population. This is the part of population change that comes only from births and deaths, ignoring migration.