Calls for a UK emergency census are mounting as migration-driven population growth sparks debate over infrastructure risks. A leading think tank has urged the government to conduct a snap count in 2026 to gauge the full extent of recent demographic shifts, amid fears of strain on housing, services and social integration.
The Policy Exchange report highlights how mass migration has triggered social change, calling for updated data to identify extremism risks. Net migration stood at 204,000 in the year to June 2025, contributing to a population of 69.3 million by mid-2024—the second-largest annual increase in 75 years.
