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Population

Answer

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 18 February 2008:"The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your questions on population density:""what the population density is of each region of England. (177451)""how many estimates of population density in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales, (e) Northern Ireland and (f) the regions of England have been made since 1987; and what each estimate was. (177464)""what assessment has been made of the likely effects of (a) migration on population density in England and (b) the increase in population density implied by Office for National Statistics population projections. (177465)""what the most recent estimates are of the likely population densities of (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales and (e) Northern Ireland in 2056. (177466)""what the population densities are expected to be of each of the regions of England on the basis of the change in population forecast by the Government Actuary Department and the Office for National Statistics in (a) 2031 and (b) 2056. (177467)""pursuant to the Answer of 3rd December 2007, Official Report, Columns 1035-6W, on population, what is the ranking of the regions of England in terms of the population density of each region of the EU, giving the population density of each EU region according to the most recent available figures. (178317)""I am replying in her absence.""Table 1 (parts 1 and 2), attached, shows population density figures calculated for each mid-year estimate from 1987 to 2006 for the UK and constituent countries, and regions in England. This includes (on part 2) the latest, mid-2006, estimate of densities for each region of England. In terms of the number of population density estimates, population estimates are produced annually but may be subject to later revision. Population density calculations are readily produced from these estimates and are normally published each year.""Population projections are demographic trend-based projections that indicate what the population levels of an area are likely to be if recently observed trends in fertility, mortality and migration were to continue. They take no account of future developments which may affect trends. Projections should not be seen as predictions. If, as in recent years, there is an increase in migration levels then the assumptions are changed to reflect this.""Table 2 below shows projected population densities for England for the period to mid-2031 based on the ONS 2006-based principal population projection. It also shows what the projected densities would be if net migration at each age was assumed to be zero from 2006 onwards, but making the same fertility and mortality assumptions as the principal projection."

Table 2: Actual and projected population density of England, 2006 to 2031
Person per sq km
	2006	2011	2016	2021	2026	2031
Principal projection	390	405	420	436	450	464
Zero migration variant projection	390	396	403	408	411	413
Source:
Office for National Statistics.

"Table 3, below shows the projected population density of the UK and constituent countries in 2056."

Table 3: Projected population density of UK and constituent countries in mid-2056
	Person per sq km
United Kingdom	324
England	521
Wales	165
Scotland	67
Northern Ireland	153
Source:
Office for National Statistics.

"Table 4, below, shows the projected population density for English regions in 2029, the closest year available to your question. The most recent subnational population projections, published in September 2007, are 2004-based projections and cover a 25 year projection period from 2005 to 2029; this means that it is not possible to provide data for subnational population projections for 2031 or 2056. Please note that as these data are based on 2004 based subnational projections they are not directly comparable with the latest (2006-based) national projections given in Table 2. 2006 based subnational population projections are due to be published in June and these will allow calculation of population densities for 2031 on a comparable basis with the latest (2006 based) national projections."

Table 4: Mid-2029 projected population density for England by Government office region
	Person per sq km
North East	299
North West	519
Yorkshire and the Humber	372
East Midlands	319
West Midlands	441
East	341
London	5,371
South East	484
South West	249
Source:
Office for National Statistics.

"The ONS does not hold data on population density for EU regions (outside of the UK)."

Table 1, part 1: Population density for mid-year estimates, 1987 to 2006
Person per sq km
	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
United Kingdom	234	235	235	236	237	237	238	239	239	240
England	363	364	365	366	367	368	369	370	371	372
North East	302	301	301	301	302	302	303	302	301	301
North West	484	483	484	484	485	485	485	485	484	483
Yorkshire and the Humber	317	317	319	319	320	321	322	322	322	322
East Midlands	252	253	255	256	257	259	260	261	262	263
West Midlands	400	400	401	401	402	403	404	404	404	405
East	263	265	265	266	268	269	270	271	272	274
London	4,304	4,281	4,295	4,325	4,344	4,344	4,354	4,372	4,397	4,436
South East	394	396	397	398	400	402	402	404	407	409
South West	193	194	195	196	197	198	199	200	201	201
Wales	136	137	138	138	139	139	139	139	139	139
Scotland	65	65	65	65	65	65	65	65	66	65
Northern Ireland	117	117	117	118	118	120	120	121	121	122

Table 1, part 2: Population density for mid-year estimates, 1987 to 2006
Person per sq km
	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
United Kingdom	240	241	242	243	244	245	246	247	248	250
England	374	375	376	378	380	381	383	385	387	390
North East	300	299	297	297	296	296	296	297	297	298
North West	482	481	480	480	480	480	482	483	485	486
Yorkshire and the Humber	322	322	322	322	323	325	326	329	331	334
East Midlands	264	265	266	267	268	271	273	275	277	280
West Midlands	405	406	406	405	406	407	409	410	412	413
East	276	277	279	281	283	284	286	288	291	293
London	4,462	4,494	4,551	4,603	4,658	4,683	4,684	4,700	4,743	4,779
South East	412	414	417	419	421	422	424	426	429	432
South West	203	203	205	206	207	209	210	212	213	215
Wales	140	140	140	140	140	141	141	142	142	143
Scotland	65	65	65	65	65	65	65	65	65	66
Northern Ireland	123	124	124	124	124	125	125	126	127	128
Sources:
Office for National Statistics
General Register Office for Scotland and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

472 c362-6W; 177465

Session

2007-08

Subjects

Population

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk