Researchers note that by 2050, the UK will rank third in the world in attractiveness for immigrants. The US will receive the most foreigners — 1.1 million people per year, while Canada, with its 214,000 immigrants per year, will take second place.
As reported by Lenta.ru citing The Daily Telegraph, the UK currently has a population of 61.1 million, lagging behind Germany (82 million) and France (62 million) in Europe. However, in 40 years, according to UN experts, Germany's population will decrease to 71 million, and France will have 68 million. Researchers attribute the decline in Germany's population to low birth rates and overall aging of the population, with a much smaller number of immigrants (110,000 per year).
The UK will become a leader not only in total population but also in average population density. Currently, the Netherlands leads the EU in this indicator, but by 2050, there will be 393 people per square kilometer there, while in the UK this figure will be 395 people. Malta, with its record 1,274 inhabitants per square kilometer, is not included in the ranking as experts consider it an exceptional case that does not reflect general trends.
UN experts predict that if current trends continue, the world population will reach 9.1 billion in 2050, compared to today's 6.8 billion. The number of elderly people worldwide will triple to about 2 billion by then. Meanwhile, average life expectancy will increase from 68 to 76 years. Despite overall population growth, the average birth rate will decline from 2.56 children per woman now to 2.02 in 2050.
In connection with the publication of the UN forecast, many UK politicians have already spoken out in favor of tightening immigration policy to prevent the country's population from increasing to an 'unacceptable level'. In their view, a sharp increase in both total population and average population density will negatively affect the standard of living of the British.