The UK population is now growing by 0.7% every year

The UK population grew by 408,000 in 2008 – the biggest increase for almost 50 years, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The total number of people passed 61m for the first time, with changes in birth and death rates now a bigger cause of growth than immigration.

The numbers of people arriving minus those leaving actually fell by 44%.

Minister Phil Woolas said migrants were coming for short periods, contributing to the economy and then going home.

The UK population grew more in 2008 than at any time since 1962, when it rose by 484,000.

Source: BBC News

Our Comment

Predictions are that our population will be over 70 million in the next 20 years.  We are a small island and already have a significant housng shortage.  We have only fallen behind that requirement when the recession started to bite last year so have to catch up even more.  With lending looking tight for the forseeable future it places even more pressure on medium to long term house prices.

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