Population growth in the UK, 1978–2024

Source: Institute for Government analysis of ONS, 'UK population estimates 1838 to 2024', September 2025Notes: Population values indexed to 1978 = 100 for each nation. Values above 100 indicate population growth since 1978, and values below 100 indicate population decline since 1978. The Barnett formula was introduced for Northern Ireland in 1980.Get the data Download image
creative commons