UK population growth slowest outside pandemic since 1998, ONS estimates show
ONS estimates put the UK population at 69.5 million in mid-2025, up 227,665 (0.33%), the slowest growth since 1998 excluding 2020, as net migration fell sharply. Outlets agree on the figures but stress different angles.
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The story, neutrally told
The UK population is estimated to have been 69.5 million in mid-2025, up by 227,665 on the previous 12 months, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Evening StandardN “The total population of the UK stood at an estimated 69.5 million people in mid-2025, up by 227,665 on the previous 12 months” Read at Evening Standard ↗ GB NewsR “The UK's population reached an estimated 69.5 million, according to the latest figures.” Read at GB News ↗ The Evening Standard reports this is a rise of 0.33%, the lowest annual rate since 1998 excluding the pandemic-affected year of 2020, after rises of 1.05% in 2022, 1.34% in 2023 and 0.97% in 2024; GB News describes the 0.3% rate as the slowest since mid-2020. Evening StandardN “This is a rise of just 0.33%, which is the lowest annual rate of increase since 1998, excluding the pandemic-affected year of 2020.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ GB NewsR “The overall growth rate of 0.3 per cent was the slowest recorded since mid-2020.” Read at GB News ↗ Net international migration fell to an estimated 222,900 in the year to mid-2025 from 651,700 the previous year, a drop of nearly two-thirds, and accounted for almost all of the growth. Evening StandardN “Net migration in the year to mid-2025 is estimated to be 222,900, down steeply from 651,700 in the previous 12 months.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ GB NewsR “Of the total 227,700 increase, 222,900 were due to more people arriving than leaving the country.” Read at GB News ↗
GB News adds that arrivals totalled 886,200, down from 1,296,500, while departures rose to 663,400 from 644,800. GB NewsR “Arrivals to the UK totalled 886,200 in the 12 months to mid-2025, a steep fall from the 1,296,500 recorded in the preceding year.” Read at GB News ↗ There were 652,400 births, the fewest in more than four decades, and 647,500 deaths, so natural change added only 4,900 people, down from 16,200 the year before but up from a fall of 16,300 in the year to mid-2023. Evening StandardN “There were 647,500 deaths over the same period, meaning natural change – the difference between births and deaths – contributed an increase to the UK population of only 4,900.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ GB NewsR “Britain recorded just 652,400 births during the period, the fewest in more than four decades, down 9,700 from the year before.” Read at GB News ↗ The four nations diverged: England grew by about 0.4%, Scotland and Northern Ireland saw almost no growth (0.04% and 0.03%), and Wales fell by 0.09%, its first fall since 2015, with more deaths than births in both Wales and Scotland. Evening StandardN “The estimated population of Wales fell by 0.09%: the first year on year drop since 2015.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ GB NewsR “Scotland and Northern Ireland each saw negligible increases of less than 0.1 per cent, while Wales was the only nation to register a decline” Read at GB News ↗
The main cause of the migration fall was fewer non-EU nationals arriving for work; the Evening Standard links this to tighter rules introduced by the previous Conservative government and continued by Labour, and also cites fewer humanitarian arrivals and more people leaving. Evening StandardN “This follows policy changes introduced by the previous Conservative government and continued by the current Labour administration” Read at Evening Standard ↗ GB NewsR “The main factor behind the fall was a sharp decrease in non-EU nationals coming to the UK for work” Read at GB News ↗ Earlier ONS projections suggest deaths could outnumber births each year from 2026 and the UK population could begin to fall in the mid-2050s, though the ONS says these are not forecasts; the ONS also cautioned that the Welsh and Scottish figures could be revised. Evening StandardN “Projections published earlier this year by the ONS suggested deaths could outnumber births each year in the UK from 2026 onwards.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ GB NewsR “The statisticians cautioned the Welsh and Scottish figures could be revised in either direction” Read at GB News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- A data-led report on the slowdown, covering the fall in migration, narrowing natural change, differences between the four nations and policy causes.
- Emphasis
- Historical comparison with 1998, regional differences, ONS projections and policy changes under both Conservative and Labour governments.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give arrival and departure totals or a share of growth due to migration.
- Charged language
- “sharp slowdown”
- For example
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“The sharp slowdown is mostly due to the ongoing fall in net migration, which has dropped rapidly since hitting record levels in 2023.” — Evening Standard
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Frames the figures around migration as the dominant driver of population growth and the closeness of the UK to population decline without it, linking to concerns about a low birth rate.
- Emphasis
- Migration's share of growth, arrival and departure totals, record-low births, and quotes from birth-rate advocates.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the 1998 comparison, the ONS projections of decline in the 2050s or the policy changes under Conservative and Labour governments.
- Charged language
- “baby bust”“lay bare”“dramatic reduction”
- For example
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“With fewer than 5,000 more babies born than people dying, the figures lay bare how close the UK has come to the point where its population would shrink without inward migration.” — GB News
What every side reports
- UK population estimated at 69.5 million in mid-2025, up about 227,700
- Net international migration was 222,900, down from 651,700
- 652,400 births (fewest in over four decades) and 647,500 deaths gave natural change of 4,900
- Wales was the only UK nation whose population fell
- The fall in migration was driven mainly by fewer non-EU workers
Where accounts differ
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How the slowdown is dated
- Centre
- Lowest annual rate since 1998, excluding the pandemic-affected 2020.
- Right
- Slowest recorded since mid-2020.
-
Migration's share of growth
- Centre
- Does not give a share; says the slowdown is mostly due to the fall in net migration.
- Right
- Headline says 96 per cent, but the text says 98 per cent; the figures given (222,900 of 227,700) work out to about 98 per cent.
UK population growth topic
The ONS figures show growth slowing sharply as net migration falls; the Evening Standard stresses the slowdown and national differences, GB News stresses dependence on migration and low births.
“UK population growth is estimated to have slowed to its lowest rate outside the Covid-19 pandemic since 1998” — Evening Standard
“underscoring how migration has become the dominant driver of demographic expansion nationwide” — GB News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Slowest UK population growth outside pandemic since 1998
Neutral Statistical report on the slowdown, with historical context, national breakdown and policy causes.
Right2 articles
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GB NewsR ·
Net migration accounted for 96 per cent of Britain's population growth last year
Alarmist Presents migration as the dominant driver of growth and warns of the effects of low births, with quotes from birth-rate advocates; its headline (96%) conflicts with its text (98%).
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- 1 Oct 11:58 First Evening StandardN Slowest UK population growth outside pandemic since 1998
- 1 Oct 15:02 +3h 4m GB NewsR Net migration accounted for 96 per cent of Britain's population growth last year
- 1 Oct 16:11 +4h 13m Daily MailR UK population hits new peak of 69.5million but growth slows as net migration and birth rates drop
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.