Population growth in the UK

Year Population 1600 Just over 4 million 1700 5 million 1801 8 million 1851 20 million 1901 40 million 1951 50 million 1998 57 million 2005 Just under 60 million 2010 Just over 62 million

Source: National Statistics

In Scotland, Gaelic is spoken in some parts of the Highlands and Islands, and in Northern Ireland some people speak Irish Gaelic.

Population growth has been faster in more recent years. Migration into the UK and longer life expectancy have played a part in population growth.

The population is very unequally distributed over the four parts of the UK. England more or less consistently makes up 84% of the total population, Wales around 5%, Scotland just over 8% and Northern Ireland less than 3%.