The population of the United Kingdom is approximately 67.5 million, making it the 21st-most populous country in the world. Population growth has been steady, driven historically by natural increase and, more recently, by net international migration. Like many developed nations, the UK has an aging population; the median age is around 40 years, and the proportion of people over 65 continues to rise, presenting challenges and opportunities for social care and the economy.
The UK is highly urbanized and densely populated, particularly in England, which accounts for about 84% of the total population. The demographic makeup is increasingly diverse. While the majority (roughly 82%) identify as White, there are substantial Asian, Black, Mixed, and other ethnic minority communities, particularly concentrated in major metropolitan areas like London, Birmingham, and Manchester.
Religiously, the UK has historically been predominantly Christian (Church of England, Catholic, Church of Scotland). However, society is highly secularized, and a growing percentage of the population reports having "no religion." Due to immigration, there are also significant Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, and Buddhist communities. English is the dominant language, with deep regional dialects, while Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, and Irish are spoken by smaller communities and supported by government protection.