THE number of foreigners living in the UK hit a record high last year, new figures have revealed.
There are 6.7million people who were born overseas living here — one in eleven of the total population — the Office for National Statistics said.
Its annual overview of official population figures also showed the extent of the “Immigrant Baby Boom” affecting the country.
Nearly a quarter of all births in England and Wales last year were to foreign born mothers — a record high. They made up 170,834 out of the total of 708,711.
Immigrants from Eastern European countries living in the UK had 25,000 children last year, the figures showed.
The ONS estimates the population will increase by nearly ten million in the next 25 years.
By 2033 there will be 71.6million people living here, up from 61.4million now, the figures showed.
The increase is nearly double that seen in the previous quarter century. Since 1983 the population has increased by nine per cent from 56.3million.
Despite claims the recession could lead to a dramatic drop in new arrivals, the ONS points to data from previous recessions suggesting that is unlikely.
The ONS cited separate research from the last three decades indicating immigration will fall for a short time, but return to pre-recession levels with the economy. The slowdown could also mean fewer new arrivals going home.
The report said: “A short-term period of falling immigration can be expected, before immigration levels rise again to pre-recession levels.
“Moreover, after an initial short burst of increased emigration, the report concluded that there is likely to be a period of decreased emigration of both British and non-British nationals.”
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