NI population growth UK’s fastest for first time in more than decade

This is largely due to its lower average age, the ONS say.

Northern Ireland’s population grew by 0.64% from mid-2018 to mid-2019, according to the latest annual estimates, published yesterday.

England saw estimated growth of 0.55%, followed by Scotland (0.46%) and Wales (0.45%).

It is the first time since 2009 that Northern Ireland was the fastest-growing nation in the UK.

The ONS said: “One of the main drivers of the faster population growth in Northern Ireland is the comparatively high level of natural change driven by a younger population (median age of 38.9 years compared with 40.3 years across the UK) leading to a higher number of births and a lower number of deaths.”

Even when the UK is broken down into 12 regions — nine in England plus Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — the average age here is lower than any other region with the exception of London.

London’s youthful population is largely due to migration and immigration, the ONS say.

“The age structure of London results from its specific patterns of international and internal migration,” the statistics authority said. “In particular, there is a distinctive age structure to these moves, with international immigrants and emigrants tending to be of traditional student ages or aged between 20 and 40 years old.”

Only 16.6% of the population in Northern Ireland is of pension age, compared with 18.4% in England, 19.1% in Scotland and 21.0% in Wales.

The total population in Northern Ireland in mid-2019 was estimated at 1,893,667.

The population of Scotland was estimated at 5,463,300, Wales at 3,152,879 and England at 56,286,961.

The estimated population of the UK has hit 66.8 million after growing at the slowest rate for 15 years.

The population growth rate over the 12 months to the middle of 2019 was 0.5% for the UK as a whole, the slowest since mid-2004, the ONS said.

The year to mid-2019 also saw the fewest births since mid-2005, at 722,000.

The ONS said net international migration of 231,000 people was 44,000 fewer than in the year to mid-2018.

Neil Park, from the ONS population estimates unit, said: “The population grew at the slowest rate for 15 years between mid-2018 and mid-2019.

“This is due to the lowest number of births for 14 years alongside an increase in emigration and a fall in international immigration.

“The figures we’re publishing today highlight the variation in the population across the UK.

“For example, the population density in London is 24 times higher than that for the South West of England.

“Also, the proportion of people aged 65 or over ranges from over 30% in coastal areas such as North Norfolk to less than 8% in parts of central London like Tower Hamlets.”