Statistics Wales demography newsletter: September 2026

On 29 July, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published mid-2025 population estimates for Wales and England. The Welsh Government has published a bulletin summarising the mid-2025 population estimates for Wales. StatsWales tables (StatsWales) will be updated in due course.

Estimates for 2022 to 2024 have been revised by the ONS to incorporate improved international migration data.

More information about the impact of the revisions are in the ONS bulletin 'Population estimates for England and Wales: mid-2025'.

The population estimates for Wales have been revised downwards to:

• 3,132,700 in 2022, a decrease of 1,500 (0.05%) from the previously published estimate
• 3,165,100 in 2023, a decrease of 2,300 (0.07%) from the previously published estimate
• 3,177,900 in 2024, a decrease of 8,600 (0.27%) from the previously published estimate

Main points

• In 2025, around 3,175,200 people were living in Wales, a small decrease of 0.1%, around 2,800 fewer people compared to 2024; this is the first decrease in population since between 2014 and 2015.
• The recent population decrease has been driven by negative natural change and decreasing net international migration.
• Over a fifth of people were aged 65 or older (22.2%, or 705,100 people).
• Newport saw the largest percentage population increase (up 0.7%).
• There was a population increase of 0.4% in England for the same period.

The Chief statistician has published a blog about the latest population estimates and our plans to update projections.

Associated publications

The ONS has published a blog, explaining how it is improving population estimates to give users clearer and better information about the population in their area.

Alongside the mid-2025 population estimates, the ONS has published the Population estimates for England and Wales quality and methods guide (ONS) and the Improving population estimates for England and Wales article (ONS), which explain the methods used and ongoing improvements to the official estimates. 

The ONS has also published the Effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the quality of mid-year population estimates for England and Wales report article, which explores the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the sources used in the mid-year population estimates for England and Wales, what it means for their quality and uncertainty, and how users should interpret the estimates for the pandemic years and beyond.

If you have any questions, please contact us on stats.popcensus@gov.wales.

On 29 July, the ONS published estimates of the very old, including centenarians, England and Wales: 2002 to 2025. This is a data-only release which provides population estimates by single age and sex for people aged 90 and over in England and Wales.

On 31 July, the ONS published population estimates by marital status and living arrangements, England and Wales: 2025. The release provides estimates by age and sex and includes information on trends in marriage, civil partnerships, divorce, widowhood and cohabitation. 

The ONS has also revised estimates for 2022 to 2024 following revisions to mid-year population estimates.

The ONS aims to release a full set of UK population estimates for mid-2025 in autumn 2026. This will include estimates for Northern Ireland produced by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and estimates for Scotland produced by National Records of Scotland.

For information on Welsh language statistics, please see the Statistics Wales quarterly update.

Telephone: 0300 025 0373

Email: stats.popcensus@gov.wales

Media: 0300 025 8099