The United Kingdom population was projected to increase gradually from an estimated 59.2 million in 2002 to reach 64.8 million by 2031, according to new figures from the Government Actuary. The projections were based on the estimated population at the middle of 2002, and replaced the previous (interim) 2001-based national projections. Environmental campaigners expressed concern at the increase. A group opposed to large-scale immigration challenged the long-term assumption that, over the period to 2031, there would be a net annual increase in the population from immigration of 103,000 people.
Source: 2002-Based Population Projections, Government Actuary's Department (020 7211 2600) | Press release 18 December 2003, Optimum Population Trust (07976 370221) | 2003 Population Projections, MigrationwatchUK (01869 337007)
Links: Report (links) | ONS press release (pdf) | Home Office press release | Population Trends article | OPT press release | MigrationwatchUK report | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Dec
An article explained how overall fertility assumptions, which underlay official 2002-based population projections, were derived. It also explained why these levels were higher than current period indicators of fertility. Finally, information on more detailed age-specific fertility rates, and implications for family size distributions, was given.
Source: Steve Smallwood, 'Fertility assumptions for the 2002-based national population projections', Population Trends 114, Winter 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2003-Dec
The 2002 mid-year household estimates were published for England as a whole and by individual local authority. The number of households in England was estimated to be 20.9 million, an increase of 0.7 per cent from mid 2001.
Source: Interim Mid Year Household Estimates for England for 2001 and 2002, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (0870 1226 236)
Links: Summary (pdf) | Table (Excel)
Date: 2003-Dec
The Government Actuary published the long-term assumptions of future fertility, mortality and net migration underlying the 2002-based population projections.
Source: 2002-based National Population Projections: Underlying assumptions, Government Actuary's Department (020 7211 2600)
Links: Report | GAD press release
Date: 2003-Nov
The independent statistics watchdog said Census takers may have missed more than 100,000 people when they counted the population of Westminster (in central London) in April 2001. It called for the Westminster figures to be 'revisited', and recommended a further count in 2006 in central London, Manchester and other areas that had transient populations and significant numbers of migrants.
Source: The 2001 Census in Westminster: Interim report, Statistics Commission (020 7273 8008)
Links: Report (pdf) | StatComm press release (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Oct
The official population estimate for England and Wales in mid-2002 was 52,455,300. This was almost 180,000 higher than in 2001. Revised population estimates for 2001 showed a growth of slightly more than 1.5 million since 1991 - equivalent to a growth of 3 per cent over the decade. Both the 2001 and 2002 estimates reflected the 'adding back' of around 190,000 men (mainly aged 25-34) apparently missed by the 2001 Census.
Source: Mid-2002 Population Estimates: UK, England and Wales, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034) | Mid-2001 Revised Population Estimates: UK, England and Wales, Office for National Statistics
Links: Link to datasets | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-Sep
Environmental campaigners called on all political parties to incorporate clear population stabilisation and reduction policies in their next general election manifestos. They said that if the current rate of increase continued, the United Kingdom population would reach 71 million by 2050. They proposed an alternative population policy designed to achieve a reduction to 52.5 million by the same year - which they estimated would mean 10 million fewer vehicles on the roads, and a reduction of 31 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year.
Source: Press release 23 September 2003, Optimum Population Trust (07976 370221)
Links: OPT press release | Observer report
Date: 2003-Sep
An article examined the accuracy of population estimates at local authority level, based on a comparison of the mid-2001 estimates made following the 2001 Census with those based on the 1991 Census.
Source: Jonathan Smith, Roma Chappell, Alison Whitworth and Craig Duncan, 'Implications of 2001 Census for local authority district midyear population estimates', Population Trends 113, Autumn 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-Sep
An article examined some of the key issues that arose in the assessment of the 2001 Census population counts, including the fieldwork, publicity, the 'One Number Census' methodology, and the quality assurance of the results. (As part of the 2001 Census, the One Number Census project estimated and adjusted the Census database for under-enumeration, in order to ensure robust results for each local authority area.)
Source: Ian Diamond, Owen Abbott and Neil Jackson, 'Key issues in the quality assurance of the One Number Census', Population Trends 113, Autumn 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-Sep
Scotland's Registrar General published an annual review of demographic changes. Scotland's population fell in the year to 30 June 2002 to 5,054,800 (0.2 per cent down from mid-2001) - a level last seen in the first half of the 20th century. Scotland recorded a natural decrease (an excess of deaths over births) over the period 1997-2002. The natural decrease (6,065 in 2001-02) was a larger factor in population decline than emigration, a pattern which was projected to continue.
Source: Scotland's Population 2002: The Registrar General s Annual Review of Demographic Trends, General Register Office for Scotland, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | GROS press release
Date: 2003-Jul
An article described the main features of the population of England and Wales in 2001. The population was estimated at 52.1 million, an increase of just under 0.4 per cent compared with 2000. There were 595,000 live births in 2001, a decrease of 1.6 per cent. The total number of registered deaths in 2001 was 532,000, a fall of 1.0 per cent. There were 249,000 marriages in 2001, a fall of 7 per cent. There were 144,000 divorces granted in 2001, a rise of 1.9 per cent. There were an average of 378 people per square kilometre in England, and 140 people per square kilometre in Wales in 2001.
Source: Gayle Hindess, 'Population review of England and Wales, 2001', Population Trends 112, Summer 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-Jun
A report was published summarising results from the 2001 Census for England and Wales.
Source: Census 2001: National Report for England & Wales, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Link to report and tables | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-May
An article described new 2001-based national population projections made after publication of the first results of the 2001 Census. The United Kingdom population was projected to increase gradually from an estimated 58.8 million in 2001 to over 63 million by 2026, equivalent to an annual rate of growth of 0.28 per cent. Longer-term projections suggested the population would peak around 2040, at nearly 64 million, and then gradually start to fall.
Source: Chris Shaw, 'Interim 2001-based national population projections for the United Kingdom and constituent countries', Population Trends 111, Spring 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2003-Apr
The reference volume was published for the 2001 Census in Scotland. It serves as an index to the detailed tables.
Source: Scotland's Census 2001: Reference Volume, General Register Office for Scotland (0131 314 4254)
Links: Report | Press release
Date: 2003-Mar
Analysis of Census results showed that the population of England and Wales increased by 2.5 per cent from mid-1991 to Census day on 29 April 2001 (from 50,748,000 to 52,042,000). Children (15 and under) formed 20.2 per cent of the population, and people aged 65 and over formed 16 per cent. Over 30 per cent of the adult population were single.
Source: Press release 13.2.03, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Census website | Press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-Feb
Revised mid-year population estimates for 1991 to 2000 were published. The revisions were made to bring the population estimates for these years into line with the latest mid-2001 population estimates, which were based on the results of the 2001 Census.
Source: Mid-1991 to Mid-2000 Revised Population Estimates for England and Wales, Office for National Statistics (01329 813318)
Links: Link to datasets | Press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-Feb