ONS · people

UK population under each government

The full published series with each government’s time in office shaded. The table gives the level each government inherited and the last complete period before it left. Changes describe the period, not a cause. Definitions and caveats are on the metric page.

Published valueProvisional or revisedLatestShaded bands: governments (see labels)Hover or use arrow keys to read a value

Government	Inherited	Left at / latest	Change during government
Labour 2024–5 July 2024 – present	Fewer than two periods have been published during this government, so no change is shown yet.
Conservative 2019–202413 December 2019 – 5 July 2024	66,286,7272018	68,526,1832023	↑ 3.4%+2,239,456
Conservative 2017–20199 June 2017 – 13 December 2019	65,605,8412016	66,286,7272018	↑ 1.0%+680,886
Conservative 2015–20178 May 2015 – 9 June 2017	64,618,6932014	65,605,8412016	↑ 1.5%+987,148
Coalition 2010–201511 May 2010 – 8 May 2015	62,260,4862009	64,618,6932014	↑ 3.8%+2,358,207
Labour 2005–20106 May 2005 – 11 May 2010	59,950,3642004	62,260,4862009	↑ 3.9%+2,310,122
Labour 2001–20058 June 2001 – 5 May 2005	58,886,1002000	59,950,3642004	↑ 1.8%+1,064,264
Labour 1997–20012 May 1997 – 7 June 2001	58,164,4001996	58,886,1002000	↑ 1.2%+721,700
Conservative 1992–199710 April 1992 – 2 May 1997	57,438,7001991	58,164,4001996	↑ 1.3%+725,700
Conservative 1987–199212 June 1987 – 9 April 1992	56,683,8001986	57,438,7001991	↑ 1.3%+754,900
Conservative 1983–198710 June 1983 – 11 June 1987	56,290,7001982	56,683,8001986	↑ 0.7%+393,100
Conservative 1979–19834 May 1979 – 9 June 1983	56,178,0001978	56,290,7001982	↑ 0.2%+112,700