Census reveals biggest surge in population since records began

Unexpected rise in numbers in England and Wales to 53 million, lastest figures show

Suggested Topics

A baby boom, longer life expectancy and new migrant settlers over the past decade have led to the single-largest surge in the population since records began.

England and Wales is home to 3.7 million more people than a decade ago, according to the 2011 census figures released today, bringing the total population to 53.1million. Just over half the increase was down to new settlers– the second decade in a row that net migration has substantially contributed to population growth.

The rise is almost half a million larger than predicted at the last census, explained by better counting and more migrants than previously thought, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS). It compares with an increase of 1.6million people in the previous decade.

The new people, young and old, are by no means evenly spread across the two countries, with over half of the population growth concentrated in London, the South East and the East of England.

In fact, with some notable exceptions such as Greater Manchester, many towns and cities in the north saw populations decrease or stagnate.

The regional variation means the average population density of 371 people living in every square kilometre is misleading as the capital wildly skews the figure.

In London, there are a staggering 5,200 people per kilometre squared, tussling it out for limited housing, desirable schools, cycle lanes and space on the tube. By excluding London, the national average drops to 321.

The census figures, taken on 27 March 2011, prompted a mixed response, ranging from doom and gloom about bursting Britain to optimism about the country’s ability to cope, adapt and take advantage of the growing, and increasingly diverse population amid shrinking natural and financial resources.

Matt Cavanagh, visiting fellow at the Institute of Public Policy, said: “It is really only London and the South East which is crowded, rather than our island as a whole. Today’s figures show that some local authorities, particularly in the north, are struggling with the opposite problem.

He added: “Planning for infrastructure, housing, and services, and more fundamentally, our attitude to urbanization, resource scarcity, emissions and other related questions, [are relevant issues] even in the hypothetical scenario of zero net immigration.”

Simon Ross, chief executive of Population Matters, said: "England faces unsustainable pressure on housing, roads and public transport and green spaces... we should give an example to other countries by seeking to limit our numbers."

The biggest increases were among the very old and very young.

There were 3.5million pre-school children in 2011 – 406,000 more than 10 years earlier – with a 12 per cent rise in this group in the West Midlands. The birth rate is higher among new migrants because they are usually of working age, but is also rising among British born women from different ethnic backgrounds.

For the first time ever, one in six Britons is now over 65. The biggest rise was among the over 90s reflecting the increased longevity most individuals covet, and most public policy makers fear due to demand for health and social care services. 

Again, regional variations were apparent as in 11 local authorities more than a quarter of the population are aged 65 or over, with the highest being Christchurch in Dorset with 30 per cent.

This age distribution has huge implications for the provision of public services such as hospitals, social care and schools, but also for the amount of tax revenue councils can expect to earn and how much they receive from Whitehall. 

A debate is raging about the accuracy of the data, for example Westminster council today accused the ONS of “under counting” and so depriving it of rightful government funds, and this could be the last ever national census.

In terms of baseline numbers, the biggest implication of the 7 per cent increase was for housing, according to Professor Jane Falkingham, director of the Centre for Population Change at Southampton University. “But the changing age structure has biggest implications for health and education.”

She added: “In general the migrant numbers just mean we are becoming a more diverse and dynamic culture, with people bringing their skills to the UK. But there are some local areas which have seen dramatic transformations of their ethnic mix and the further breakdown of data we get from the ONS later this year will help local authorities to see whether they are providing the right services for their population.”

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Top stories
News in pictures
World news in pictures
UK news in pictures
UK news in pictures
More stories
       
Independent
Travel Shop
Lake Como and the Bernina Express
Seven nights half-board from £749pp Find out more
Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian coast
Seven nights half-board from only £859pp Find out more
Prague city break
Three nights from only £199pp Find out more
 
Independent Dating
and  

By clicking 'Search' you
are agreeing to our
Terms of Use.

iJobs Job Widget
iJobs General

Senior Electrical Engineering Consultant – Renewable Energy Grid Connections.

Negotiable Depending on Experience: The Green Recruitment Company: The Green R...

BREEAM Consultant

£25000 - £30000 Per Annum: The Green Recruitment Company: The Green Recruitmen...

Design Engineer - ProE, Hand Calcs

Negotiable: Progressive Recruitment: Dear Sumadhab, A growing engineering comp...

Year 6 Teacher / Year Group Leader

Negotiable: Randstad Education Ilford: We are currently recruiting for a Year ...

Day In a Page

'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong': The true effect of the badger cull

The true effect of the badger cull

'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong'
Theatre review: Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's The Cripple of Inishmaan

First night: The Cripple of Inishmaan

Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's comedy
Girls Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

After 103 years, organisation changes oath to welcome 'all girls, of all faiths, and none'
Steve Tongue: Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago

Steve Tongue

Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago
Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Bradley Wiggins' exit

Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Wiggins' exit

Sky's lead rider says he is in fantastic form for the Tour and happy pecking order debate is over
Hannah England: I've got the right times – now to focus on the chess

Hannah England: Keeping Track

I've got the right times – now to focus on the chess
Beards, brawn and body art

Beards, brawn and body art

Meet London’s new batch of male models
Scandi-geeks descend on Nordicana for fan-convention

Scandi-geeks descend on Nordicana for fan-convention

British love of shows such as The Bridge, Borgen and The Killing shows no sign of fading
Behind the rhetoric what is really being done to combat desertification?

The Great Green Wall of Africa,

Behind the rhetoric what is really being done to combat desertification?
Laughter Inc: the cheering growth of the chuckle industry

Laughter Inc

The cheering growth of the chuckle industry
The bad science scandal: how fact-fabrication is damaging UK's global name for research

The bad science scandal

How fact-fabrication is damaging UK's global name for research
To the manor born: The female aristocrats battling to inherit the title

Female aristocrats battle to inherit the title

A passionate protest is gathering pace among the women of Britain's aristocracy, who believe that men should no longer automatically inherit the family pile and title.
Love struck: Photographs of JFK's visit to Berlin 50 years ago reveal a nation instantly smitten

In pictures: JFK's visit to Berlin in 1963

Photographer Ulrich Mack accompanied Kennedy on the entire trip. The results are an astonishing record of a watershed moment.
Eat shoots and leaves: Mark Hix gets creative with fresh peas, mangetouts and sugar snaps

Mark Hix gets creative with English peas

English peas and their offsprings, such as mangetouts and sugar snaps, are great tossed into a salad, says our chef.
Ceviche with a smile: Chef Martin Morales has turned South America's elegant cuisine into one of London's hottest food trends

Chef Martin Morales: Ceviche with a smile

Morales has turned South America's elegant cuisine into one of London's hottest food trends