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The population of England and Wales is estimated to have hit 62million for the first time, despite more than 604,000 people emigrating under Labour.

Figures reveal a 224,000 increase in the population over the year to June 2025, equivalent to growth of just under half a per cent.

A total of 816,500 people arrived in England and Wales from overseas, compared with 604,800 who left, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Overall, net international migration to England and Wales was 211,700, a sharp fall from 612,500 in the year to mid-2024.

There were 588,000 births, the fewest since mid-1978, although they still outnumbered deaths by 19,600.

As a result, population growth was driven almost entirely by international migration.

All regions of England recorded population increases except London, where the population declined by 0.29 per cent due to a rise in the number of residents moving to other parts of the UK.

The local authority with the highest annual population growth was Rugby in Warwickshire (2.4 per cent), while the Isles of Scilly led population decline (down 3.5 per cent) followed by Camden in north London (down 1.8 per cent).

The figures also revealed an ageing population as the median age rose to 40.6 years in England, and 43.2 years in Wales.

There were an estimated 15,172 people aged 100 and over, a 3.7 per cent increase since 2024 (14,635) and over a fifth more than in 2015.

There was also an increase in people aged over 90, with an estimated 581,400 in England and Wales by mid-2025, a rise of 16.3 per cent from 2025.

Britain's ageing population is one of the factors behind a crisis in the social care system, which Andy Burnham has vowed to fix.

The Prime Minister will hold cross-party talks on social care today - but neither Kemi Badenoch nor Ed Davey can attend in person and Nigel Farage has been snubbed.

Mr Burnham said he wants to build a 'spirit of collaboration' on tackling the social care crisis and vowed to expend 'whatever political capital I have' on fixing the system.

He has insisted the time for 'playing politics' on the issue is over, 'when the human cost of that means carers struggling, families paying the price and our NHS buckling under the strain'.

Both the Tories and Liberal Democrats have accepted Mr Burnham's invitation to attend Wednesday's meeting, which will happen after the PM gives a speech.

But Mrs Badenoch, the Tory leader, is unable to attend - due to a non-serious pre-planned medical appointment - and will send shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew on her behalf.

Meanwhile, Sir Ed will join the meeting via Zoom as he is in France with his son who needs round-the-clock care.

A Tory official criticised Mr Burnham for only giving short notice of Wednesday's meeting and for holding it during Parliament's summer break.