England and Wales record sluggish population growth and widening health disparities

New Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates show that population growth in England and Wales slowed to its lowest rate since the Covid‑19 pandemic, with the overall population reaching about 62.0 million in mid‑2025 – an increase of only 0.4 % from the previous year. Net international migration fell sharply to 211,700, down from 612,500 a year earlier, contributing to declines in several local areas. Wales experienced a population drop for the first time in a decade, and London saw its first decrease since 2021, while cities such as Leeds, Birmingham and Nottingham also recorded modest falls.

Health data released by the ONS reveal that healthy life expectancy in Wales lags behind England. Median healthy life expectancy at birth for Welsh women was 63.8 years and for men 62.5 years, compared with 66.8 years and 65.3 years respectively in England. The gap is most pronounced in areas like Townhill in Swansea and Ely East in Cardiff, where women can expect just over 50 years of good health. The highest figures are found in Westminster, where women can expect 81.2 years and men 78.3 years of healthy life.