Migration will add six million people to the UK population by 2036, new estimates from the Office for Naitonal Statistics show.
The UK population could reach nearly 74 million by that time, the figures suggest. This is an increase from the latest estimate of 67 million.
The data has been published by the Office for National Statisics (ONS) and assumes a level of long-term net international migration of 315,000 a year from mid-2028 onwards.
All the figures are projections, not predictions, because they are based on current and past trends. The actual levels of future migration and population may be higher or lower than the projections, the ONS said.
Migration will add six million people to the UK population by 2036, new estimates from the Office for Naitonal Statistics show
PA
James Robards, ONS head of population and household projections, said: “Expert views and the latest data covering the last 10 years has led us to develop a long-term net migration assumption of 315,000 each year from year ending mid-2028 onwards.
“It is important to recognise that there is uncertainty in the provisional international migration estimates. Future migration will be affected by policy changes as well as the impact of as yet unknown migrant behavioural patterns in the future.
“Put simply, if migration comes down, so will future projections.
“If net international migration were to be, say, 20% higher than our long-term assumption, then it would be 379,000 per year. If it were to be 20% lower than our assumption, then it would be 253,000 per year.
“That is why we call these projections and not forecasts. There is uncertainty and these differences would affect the total size of the population accordingly.”
The Government has introduced a number of measures to crack down on net migration to the UK, including raising the salary threshold for work visas.
It has also attempted to cut down on the number of migrants arriving illegally in small boats.
The Government's Safety of Rwanda Bill, which will put their plan to send migrants to Rwanda into law, is currently being debated in the House of Lords after passing through the Commons earlier this month.