The UK population grew by almost half a million last year to 64,596,800, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.
The “above average” increase of 491,100 from mid-2013 to mid-2014 included net migration adding 259,700 to population growth, the ONS figures show.
This was more than “natural growth” – births minus deaths – which added 226,200.
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The ONS said a quarter of births were to mothers born outside the UK.
The overall number of births was down compared with the previous year, continuing a downward trend seen since a peak in mid-2012.
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