Immigration surge swells English population
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People walk across London Bridge to their work places in the City of London, on Thursday, Oct 25, 2012. The population of England and Wales swelled between 2001 and 2011 after an influx of 2.9 million people born abroad, while the number of Christians plunged, according to census data published on Tuesday. -- PHOTO: AP
LONDON (AFP) - The population of England and Wales swelled between 2001 and 2011 after an influx of 2.9 million people born abroad, while the number of Christians plunged, according to census data published on Tuesday.
The figures from the March 2011 census paint a picture of a changing population, with more foreign-born residents and fewer people of faith.
The population of England and Wales was 56.1 million, an increase of 3.7 million or 7 per cent since 2001.
The number of foreign-born residents rose by 63 per cent from 4.6 million in 2001 to 7.5 million a decade later. They now account for 13 per cent of the population, up from nine.
