If the London population continues to grow at its present rate, the nation is expected to become a megacity by 2024, a new report has revealed.
London's East End townships are seeing a surge in population, predicted to push the capital's number of inhabitants close to 10 million in the next eight years. On the other hand, the populations in the North West and North East areas are expected to experience a decline.
The predictions were made by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) that conducted a subnational population projection based on 2014 data.
By The Numbers
The regions of London, the East of England and the South East are the areas that would see the fastest growth in the country, increasing at 13.7 percent, 8.9 percent and 8.1 percent, respectively. England is predicted to only have a growth of 7.5 percent over the same period.
London is expected to reach a population of 9.71 million by 2024 from 8.54 million in 2014.
North East areas, however, would have the slowest growth rate of only 3.1 percent from 2014 to 2024. Cumbria's Barrow-in-Furness was projected to have the greatest decline at 4.3 percent or 64,700 after 10 years. The population of Blackburn, Blackpool and Hyndburn would also see a shrink in its population.
Interestingly, the population of individuals 65 years old and above was also noted to increase rapidly versus other age groups in England.
Implications To The Nation
The numbers have bigger values when juxtaposed with the national policies. These figures are important bases of government projects that include health care, education and social services.
What worries the government is the number of retired and working-age population. Increasing numbers of individuals older than 65 years and the declining population of those aged 16 years old to 64 years old indicate that the population is getting older.
"All regions of England are projected to see an increase in their population size over the next decade, with London, the East of England and South East projected to grow faster than the country as a whole," said Suzie Dunsmith from the ONS Population Projections Unit. "The population is also aging with all regions seeing a faster growth in those aged 65 and over than in younger age groups."
The predictions were reached by taking existing fertility and mortality rates were then used to calculate the numbers. Adjustments were also made to take into account migration in each area. Assumption of fertility, mortality and migration levels were based on the last half decade data prior to its application to the present projections.
In the U.S., a recent Tech Times report showed that Georgetown, Texas is the fastest growing city with a population increase of 7.8 percent in just 12 months.
Photo: Mark Hillary | Flickr
