About this article

National population projections by age and sex are produced for the UK and its constituent countries every two years. The projections are based on the most recently available mid-year population estimates and a set of underlying demographic assumptions regarding future fertility, mortality and migration. This article considers the accuracy of the official national population projections made for the UK over the last forty or more years. The findings take account of the revisions to population estimates following the 2011 Census and are largely similar to the findings of a previous review carried out after the 2001 Census.