And in the longer-term 25-year forecast the UK’s population is now expected to reach 74.3 million in 2039.
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And if the indirect impact of people arriving in the next 25 years having babies of their own is taken into account, net migrations will account for more than two thirds (68 per cent) of the population increase to 2039.
The UK’s population is set to soar by around 10 million over the next 25 years – according to official figures.
The ONS also said the population is projected to reach 70 million by mid 2027, while it will rise by 2.3 million in the next five years and 4.4 million over the next decade.
The population will cross the 70 million mark in about 12 years, in mid-2027.
The 440,000-a-year increase over the next 10 years will be the equivalent of adding the population of Dorset to the United Kingdom every year, said Paul Vickers of the ONS.
And critics who claim the UK’s population would shrink without the current open borders are disproved by the latest release.
The data is published every two years.
While the overall growth in the Northern Ireland population through to mid-2039 is projected to be lower than that for the rest of the United Kingdom (9.8% compared with 15.1%), the extent of ageing in the Northern Ireland population is projected to exceed that in the rest of the United Kingdom.
It means Britain will overtake France to be the second largest country in Europe in 2030, and then become the largest country in Europe in 2047, overtaking Germany.
Statisticians have set out estimates of the future number and age structure of people living in the country.
“Growth will be at a faster rate than we have seen previously, largely due to the direct impact of global migration and the indirect impact of immigration”.
Natural growth is projected to be the main reason for this increase, with 169,300 more births than deaths predicted.
In August it emerged that net migration to Britain (the difference between the number of people entering and leaving the country) reached a record high of 330,000 in the year to March.
One twelve of the population is expected to be aged 80 or over by mid-2039.
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ONS director of Social and Analysis Guy Goodwin said: “Today’s figures are used to inform policies, such as on pensions, migration and care, and for the planning of housing and services”.
