An article presented the interim 2003-based national population projections for the United Kingdom. The population was projected to increase gradually from an estimated 59.6 million in 2003, passing 60 million in 2005, to reach 65.7 million by 2031, equivalent to an average annual rate of growth of 0.35 per cent. Longer-term projections suggested the population would peak around 2050 at nearly 67 million, and then very gradually start to fall.
Source: Chris Shaw, 'Interim 2003-based national population projections for the United Kingdom and constituent countries', Population Trends 118, Winter 2004, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2004-Dec
A study reviewed methodologies used in different countries, within and beyond Europe, to estimate the stock of illegally resident persons; and assessed their applicability to the United Kingdom.
Source: Charles Pinkerton, Gail McLaughlan and John Salt, Sizing the Illegally Resident Population in the UK: 2nd edition, Online Report 58/04, Home Office (web publication only)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Nov
The United Kingdom population was projected to increase from an estimated 59.6 million in 2003, passing 60 million in 2005, to reach 65.7 million by 2031. The projections were based on the estimated population at the middle of 2003, and replaced the previous 2002-based national projections.
Source: Press release 30 September 2004, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034) and Government Actuary's Department
Links: ONS/GAD press release (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Sep
The population of the United Kingdom was 59.6 million on 30 June 2003, a rise of 0.4 per cent on a year earlier - a similar increase to the previous year. Annual growth was highest in Wales and lowest in Scotland. The population continued to age, with the number of people aged over 85 increasing from 873,000 in 1991 to 1,104,000 in 2003: this age group made up 1.9 per cent of the overall population.
Source: Population Estimates: Mid-2003, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report | ONS press release (pdf) | Help the Aged press release
Date: 2004-Sep
The total population of Scotland was projected to fall from 5.06 million to below 4.9 million in 2028 - a slower rate of decline than previously expected, due to an increase in the number of births and in the number of people migrating to Scotland, mostly from the rest of the United Kingdom.
Source: Projected Population of Scotland (2003 Based), General Register Office for Scotland (0131 314 4243)
Links: Report | SE press release
Date: 2004-Sep
The estimated population of Northern Ireland at 30 June 2003 was 1,702,600, an increase of 6,000 (0.4 per cent) on the 2002 population of 1,696,600, and an increase of 67,100 (4.1 per cent) on the 1993 population of 1,635,600.
Source: Press release 11 August 2004, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (028 9034 8160)
Links: NISRA press release
Date: 2004-Aug
The Registrar General for Scotland published an annual review of demographic trends. A special chapter dealt with migration - within Scotland as well as to and from Scotland - drawing on information from the 2001 Census, and from surveys of where students went after graduation.
Source: Scotland's Population 2003: The Registrar General's annual review of demographic trends, General Register Office for Scotland (0131 314 4243)
Links: Report (pdf) | GROS press release | SE press release
Date: 2004-Jul
The Office for National Statistics said that 60,000 people would be added to the 2001 Census population figures for England and Wales (0.1 per cent of the total population estimate). This followed publication of the results from studies designed to improve population estimates in areas that proved hardest to count in 2001.
Source: Press release 8 July 2004, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034) | 2001 Census: Local Authority Population Studies - Progress Review, Office for National Statistics | 2001 Census: Manchester and Westminster Studies Summary Report, Office for National Statistics
Links: ONS press release (pdf) | LAPS report (pdf) | Manchester/Westminster report (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jul
A report said that the population of people aged 80 and over was set to rise to 4.9 million by 2031 nearly double the 2002 figure of 2.5 million.
Source: National Population Projections: 2002-based, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf) | GAD press release | Age Concern press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jul
A report highlighted key factors affecting the growth of the United Kingdom population. It included information on changes in age structure, and the role of fertility and migration in driving population change. Until the mid-1990s population growth had been mainly due to more births than deaths, and this natural change was set to continue. However, because of low numbers of births and deaths, net international migration into the UK from abroad had been an increasingly important factor in population growth
Source: Focus on People and Migration, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report (links) | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jun
Scotland's population was 5,057,400 on 30 June 2003, an increase of 2,600 on the previous year. There were 6,500 more deaths than births, continuing a trend of recent years. That natural reduction was more than counterbalanced by an estimated gain of 9,100 because more people migrated to Scotland than moved away.
Source: 2003 Mid-Year Estimates, Scotland, General Register Office for Scotland, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (links to tables) | GROS press release
Date: 2004-Apr
An article described the proposed design of the 2011 Census for England and Wales, including the statistical and operational aims, changes from the 2001 Census, benefits and risks.
Source: Peter Benton and Ian White, 'The 2011 Census: a proposed design for England and Wales', Population Trends 115, Spring 2004, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2004-Mar
An article presented the main results from the 2002-based national population projections compiled by the Government Actuary s Department.
Source: Chris Shaw, '2002-based national population projections for the United Kingdom and constituent countries', Population Trends 115, Spring 2004, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf)
Date: 2004-Mar
An article examined statistics on ethic segregation in the United Kingdom. It said that statistics relating to race often reinforced misleading stereotypes that were unhelpful to the development of appropriate social policy. Previous studies of indices of segregation were said to be 'inadequate'.
Source: Ludi Simpson, 'Statistics of racial segregation: measures, evidence and policy', Urban Studies, Volume 41 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2004-Mar
A paper argued that population ageing was going to present the Scottish people and government with serious economic and social challenges. If these challenges were not met through effective public policy there was a real risk that the standard of living in Scotland would decline along with the population level.
Source: Heather Joshi and Robert Wright, Starting Life in Scotland in the New Millennium: Population replacement and the reproduction of disadvantage, Fraser of Allander Institute/University of Strathclyde (0141 548 3958)
Links: Report (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jan
Wales's population was projected to increase slowly over the next 20 years and to reach 3 million by 2016. By 2021, less than 18 per cent of the population was projected to be of school age, and nearly 23 per cent of retirement age (compared to around 20 per cent for both groups in 2004). A 17 per cent (or nearly 100,000) increase in those of retirement age, and a 60 per cent (or 35,000) increase in the very elderly (85+), was expected over the next twenty years.
Source: 2002-based National Population Projections, Government Actuary's Department (020 7211 2600)
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | Statistical bulletin | WAG press release
Date: 2004-Jan
The total population of Scotland was projected to fall from 5.05 million in 2002 to 4.94 million in 2018 (falling below 5 million in 2009). The regional pattern of projected change was variable, with some areas experiencing projected population increases.
Source: Population Projections Scotland (2002-Based): Population projections by sex, age and administrative area, General Register Office for Scotland, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Report (pdf) | Report | Registrar press release | SE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jan