Immigration will add 6.1m people to UK population by 2036
According to official forecasts, immigration is expected to add 6.1 million people to the UK population by mid-2036, which raises pressure on British PM Rishi Sunak ahead of the elections, Reuters reports
The UK population is to grow from 67 million in mid-2021 to 73.7 million in 2036, almost entirely due to migration – according to the forecast published by the UK Office for National Statistics (OHS).
“Migration has become a dominant political issue in Britain and will figure prominently in a national vote later this year. The projected jump, over the 15-year period, also reflects a projection of 541,000 more births than deaths,” the publication reads.
In December 2023, Sunak’s government announced tougher visa measures and restrictions on bringing in family members to try to curb migration. This decision was criticised by businessmen and trade unions, who said the measures were counterproductive for the private sector and the national healthcare service, which is suffering from labour shortages.
