Population of England and Wales grows by 610,000 in a year to 60.9m - the biggest rise since 1948 - driven by surging immigration despite deaths being higher than births everywhere except London and West Midlands

The population of England and Wales has grown by 610,000 in a year driven by surging immigration.

Official figures showed numbers hit 60.9million by the middle of 2023, after net international migration of 622,000.

The increase was the biggest since 1948, when people were returning to the country following the end of the Second World and there was a baby boom.

It came despite so-called 'natural' change in the population effectively grinding to a halt, with more deaths than births in every region except London and the West Midlands. 

The details from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) will heap pressure on Keir Starmer to make good on his promise to bring down 'sky-high' immigration. 

Neil Park of the ONS said: 'High levels of international migration seen in recent years are the main driver of population growth.

'But the year to mid-2023 also saw an increased number of deaths, as well as the lowest number of births since 2002.

'In fact, in the most recent year, births outnumbered deaths by just 400, the lowest reported figure for natural change since the late 1970s. 

'And, interestingly, there were more deaths than births in every region, with the exception of London and the West Midlands.'

The ONS estimated that in the year to mid-2023 immigration to England and Wales from abroad was 1,084,000.

Meanwhile, some 462,000 people emigrated - giving net international migration of 622,000. There was net emigration from England and Wales to other parts of the UK of 13,800. 

There were 598,000 deaths, 24,000 higher than in mid-2022, and the number of births was 598,400, down 21,900.

That meant 'natural change' was just 400 in the year to mid-2023 - the lowest in 45 years.