Global InformationDemographics of the United Kingdom information
| Demographics of the United Kingdom | |
|---|---|
 Population pyramid in 2021 | |
| Population |  67,596,281 (2022)[1] |
| Density | 279/km2 (720/sq mi) (2022)[1] |
| Growth rate |  0.53% (2022 est.) |
| Birth rate |  10.79 per 1,000 (2022) |
| Death rate | 9.07 per 1,000 (2022) |
| Life expectancy | 81.94 years (2022) |
| • male | 79.95 years of age (2022) |
| • female | 84.04 years of age (2022) |
| Fertility rate | 1.61 (2021) |
| Infant mortality rate | 3.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2022) |
| Net migration rate | 3.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) |
| Age structure | |
| 0–14 years | 17.6% (2020) |
| 15–64 years | 63.9% |
| 65 and over | 18.5% |
| Sex ratio | |
| At birth | 1.05 male(s)/female |
| Under 15 | 1.05 male(s)/female (2022) |
| 65 and over | 0.73 male(s)/female (2022) |
| Nationality | |
| Nationality | British |
| Major ethnic | White: 82.9%
White British/Irish: 74.4% (2021) |
| Minor ethnic |
|
| Language | |
| Spoken | British English |
| Sources:[2] | |
The population of the United Kingdom was estimated at almost 67.6 million people in 2022.[1] It is the 21st most populated country in the world and has a population density of 279 people per square kilometre (720 people/sq mi), with England having significantly greater density than Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.[1] Almost a third of the population lives in south east England, which is predominantly urban and suburban, with about 9 million in the capital city, London, whose population density is just over 5,200 per square kilometre (13,468 per sq mi).[3]
The population of the UK has undergone demographic transition—that is, the transition from a (typically) pre-industrial population, with high birth and mortality rates and slow population growth, through a stage of falling mortality and faster rates of population growth, to a stage of low birth and mortality rates with, again, lower rates of growth. This growth through 'natural change' has been accompanied in the past two decades by growth through net immigration into the United Kingdom, which since 1999 has exceeded natural change.[4]
The United Kingdom's high literacy rate (99% at age 15 and above)[5] is attributable to universal state education, introduced at the primary level in 1870 (Scotland 1872, free 1890[6]) and at the secondary level in 1900. Parents are obliged to have their children educated from the ages of 5 to 16 years. In England, 16-17 year olds should remain in education, employment or training (for example, in the form of A-Levels, vocational training, and apprenticeships), until the age of 18.[7]
The United Kingdom's population is predominantly White British (81.88% at the 2011 Census), but due to migration from Commonwealth nations, Britain has become ethnically diverse. The second and third largest non-white racial groups are Asian British at 7% of the population, followed by Black British people at 3%.
The main language of the country is British English. Some Celtic languages, namely Scottish Gaelic and Irish, are still spoken by minorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively, and Cornish has been revived to a limited degree in Cornwall; but the predominant language in all these areas is English. Welsh is widely spoken as a first language in parts of North and West Wales, and to lesser extent in South East Wales, where English is the dominant first language.[citation needed]
- ^ a b c d "Estimates of the population for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
cia.govwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Table 2 2011 Census: Usual resident population and population density, the local authorities in the United Kingdom 17 December 2012". Ons.gov.uk. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Chappell-2005awas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ UK Literacy Rate 2003 [CIA] World Book; retrieved 17 June 2013.
- ^ Education (Scotland) Act 1872
- ^ "School leaving age". GOV.UK.