Population growth (annual %) (World Population) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Population growth (annual %) (World Population) was 0.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in United Kingdom, 1961–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 0.3% for population growth in 2025.
The figure is down 72.9% on the previous year and down 58.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in United Kingdom peaked at 1.3% in 2023 and was at its lowest, -0.0%, in 1982.
That places United Kingdom 154th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (World Population) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.8% | — |
| 1962 | 0.8% | +11.6% |
| 1963 | 0.7% | -11.8% |
| 1964 | 0.7% | -13.1% |
| 1965 | 0.6% | -1.2% |
| 1966 | 0.6% | -14.2% |
| 1967 | 0.5% | -2.3% |
| 1968 | 0.5% | -9.6% |
| 1969 | 0.4% | -14.6% |
| 1970 | 0.4% | -4.1% |
| 1971 | 0.4% | +4.8% |
| 1972 | 0.3% | -18.8% |
| 1973 | 0.2% | -43.0% |
| 1974 | 0.1% | -67.4% |
| 1975 | -0.0% | -111.8% |
| 1976 | -0.0% | +231.4% |
| 1977 | -0.0% | +33.6% |
| 1978 | 0.0% | -116.3% |
| 1979 | 0.1% | +1574.1% |
| 1980 | 0.1% | +33.2% |
| 1981 | 0.0% | -70.9% |
| 1982 | -0.0% | -202.9% |
| 1983 | 0.0% | -195.1% |
| 1984 | 0.2% | +364.1% |
| 1985 | 0.2% | +43.4% |
| 1986 | 0.2% | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 0.2% | -8.2% |
| 1988 | 0.2% | +4.4% |
| 1989 | 0.3% | +17.2% |
| 1990 | 0.3% | +14.8% |
| 1991 | 0.3% | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 0.3% | -12.6% |
| 1993 | 0.2% | -11.3% |
| 1994 | 0.3% | +6.2% |
| 1995 | 0.3% | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 0.3% | -3.8% |
| 1997 | 0.3% | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 0.3% | +13.1% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | +14.4% |
| 2000 | 0.4% | +7.2% |
| 2001 | 0.4% | +7.7% |
| 2002 | 0.4% | +10.0% |
| 2003 | 0.5% | +10.0% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | +22.2% |
| 2005 | 0.7% | +20.7% |
| 2006 | 0.7% | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 0.8% | +5.9% |
| 2008 | 0.8% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 0.8% | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 0.8% | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 0.8% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 0.7% | -8.9% |
| 2013 | 0.7% | -6.2% |
| 2014 | 0.7% | +11.9% |
| 2015 | 0.7% | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | +10.1% |
| 2017 | 0.5% | -31.5% |
| 2018 | 0.5% | -10.2% |
| 2019 | 0.5% | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | -67.3% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | +111.9% |
| 2022 | 1.0% | +174.6% |
| 2023 | 1.3% | +33.7% |
| 2024 | 1.1% | -16.2% |
| 2025 | 0.3% | -72.9% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 0.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.4%, 66% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 0.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.3%, 1.0× the median. (57 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (World Population) in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +1574.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1984 | +364.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| 1976 | -231.4% | -0.0% | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -202.9% | 0.0% | -0.0% |
| 1983 | +195.1% | -0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2022 | +174.6% | 0.4% | 1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.1% | -0.0% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | -0.0% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7% | 0.2% | 1.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More climate change data for United Kingdom
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 37,706 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 8,697 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 29,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 32.82 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,036 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,083 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,027 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 55.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 26.52 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in United Kingdom?
- Population growth in United Kingdom was 0.3% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 1.3% in 2023.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.0% in 1982.
- How does United Kingdom rank for population growth?
- United Kingdom ranks 154th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population growth rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.