Population to hit 70m if immigration is unchecked

London: Britain's fast-growing population will hit 70 million in just 17 years' time if immigration goes unchecked, official figures revealed.

The projections mean that numbers are racing towards a point which even Labour politicians believe will mean overcrowding and extra costs. The breakdown from the Office for National Statistics shows how the population is expected to rise if different rates of immigration are sustained over the next 25 years.

It indicates that numbers will reach 70 million in 2027 if net migration — the number of immigrants arriving in the country minus those who leave — continues at last year's level.

Estimates

The 196,000 added to the population by net migration last year — the equivalent of a city the size of Portsmouth — was the fourth highest level on record. The ONS projections, which are based on estimates of where the British population stood two years ago, give details for various levels of net migration up to a maximum of 180,000 a year.

At the time they were drawn up, officials were unprepared for the figure to be higher. At 180,000 annual net migration, a 70 million population will be reached in 2029, the projections said.