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The UK population rose by more than half a million people last year as net migration had its largest impact so far on the numbers living in this country, official figures revealed today.

The Office for National Statistics said that an extra 513,000 residents were added to the population in the 12 months to the middle of 2015 — taking the national total to a record 65,110,000.

Net migration accounted for 335,600 of the extra inhabitants, equivalent to two-thirds of the overall population increase, with the statisticians saying that the migrant “inflow” is at its highest since 2007. By contrast, the numbers departing are their lowest since records began in 2002.

The greatest effect of the change is in London, which saw its population rise by 135,000 during the 12-month period to a new official total of 8,538,689.

That is the highest officially recorded, although still slightly below the estimated peak of 8.6 million in 1939 on the eve of the Second World War.

The increase shown in today’s figures is, however, equivalent to adding half the population of Haringey or Greenwich to the capital in a year and highlights the continuing pressure on housing and other public services from population growth in London.

Today’s statistics, which are likely to give a late boost to Brexit campaigners, show that the other key trends in population change are a decrease in the number of births, which fell by 1,900 during the year, and a rise in the number of deaths.

That means that the impact of “natural growth” in the population is less than in recent years. By contrast, the impact of net migration on the numbers living in the country is at its greatest.

For London, today’s figures show that 133,900 extra inhabitants were added as the result of net migration during the 12-month period.

Another 78,400 people were added to the population because of the large gap between the number of births and deaths in the capital. This natural growth was counter-balanced by an exodus of 77,500 Londoners moving to other parts of the country, giving an net overall population increase of 135,000 people.

Simon Ross, chief executive of Population Matters, a charity which argues for a sustainable population, warned that “in or out” the numbers living in Britain were likely to rise further.

“The UK population is growing faster than even the concerning trend of recent years. Near record net migration and an excess of births over deaths, to which migration also contributes, are combining to keep the UK near the top of European population growth.”

“London and the South-East, already two of Europe’s most densely populated areas, are growing denser still. Population growth will feed into existing concerns about housing affordability, transport congestion and access to schools and healthcare. These figures are further evidence that we must act now to limit future growth.”