Population in the North hits 1.7 million

THE North is experiencing the fastest population growth in Britain.

The number of people soared to 1.7 million according to figures from the Office for National Statistics for June 2005.

One population expert said increased births and the flood of migrant workers from eastern and southern Europe caused the upsurge.

The rest of Britain experienced a sharp rise to more than 60 million residents but less than Northern Ireland’s 0.8% growth. Bob Osborne from the University of Ulster said the trend was likely to continue as the European Union expands.

“We have got more births than deaths across all areas of Northern Ireland,” he said.

“We are having some of the largest in-migration in Northern Ireland of workers from the EU accession states.

“Historically that is the major change.

“Another reason for the gap is because in England a large number of people are leaving in their 50’s and 60’s and migrating to warmer climes. That isn’t happening here in the same way.”

Data showed 608,239 people aged under 25 lived in Northern Ireland.

There were 22,611 births between mid-2004 and last year and the survey recorded 202,678 people aged over 60.

Mr Osborne, director of the Social Policy Research Institute at the university, said the number of migrant workers was larger than the body of students who don’t return after studying outside the country.

He added: “We don’t know how permanent that may be, some may stay but others may earn some money and then go home.

“A lot of these people are vastly over-qualified for the work they do and yet the pay is still better than they could get at home.”

The peace process and economic improvements also make Northern Ireland a more attractive place to live.

Population projections to 2044 expect over 1.8 million people residing therewith numbers peaking in 2031.