HEREFORDSHIRE’S population has been growing – but due to inward migration rather than births.

From mid-2020 to mid-2023, the county’s population grew at its fastest rate in 20 years to 189,900 residents, according to the Office for National Statistics’ mid-year population estimates.

There was an increase of 1,300 residents a year driven by net inward migration, following a decline in the previous three years.

Herefordshire has higher proportions of 65s and over and older working-age adults (45-64) compared to the national average, but a lower share of younger adults (16-44 and children.

Birth rates have been dropping since 2018 and deaths increasing since 2014, according to analysis by Herefordshire Council.

In 2022-23, the latest figures available, there were 1,500 births in the county, but 2,500 deaths.