Immigrant population swells by 1.4m in five years as British-born residents dwindle

At the same time, the number of British-born residents living in the country has fallen by 500,000.

The result, according to the Office for National Statistics, is that one in every ten people living in Britain was born overseas - up from one in 12 in 2001.

Migrants who have moved here are also having significantly more children - an average of 2.5 per woman, compared to 1.7 for British mothers.

Scroll down for more...

This has led to the first predicted increase in the size of a family living here since the last baby boom in the 1960s.

Critics of the Government's 'open door' immigration policy last night questioned whether the country can cope with such a rapid pace of change.

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "These figures not only show a massive increase in immigration but also a massive increase in the rate of immigration.

"This is yet more evidence showing the real need for a limit on non-EU

migrants coming to the UK as proposed by the Conservatives.

"Only by doing this can we control immigration.

"Gordon Brown's open-door policy on immigration not only places real burdens on the public service infrastructure and housing, it causes much strain in and between communities."

The total increase in the population between mid-2002 and mid-2006 was 939,000 - the equivalent of an extra 515 people arriving every day.

This figure did not necessarily represent foreign immigrants because it may have included British-born citizens returning after a period overseas.

But data for a different period - 2001 to 2005 - showed there had been a net growth of 1,387,000 foreign-born residents.

Some 2,258,000 migrants arrived, and 871,000 left. In that period, 503,000 British-born citizens left the country.

Combining that total with the 1,387,000 figure meant a net rise in the British population of 884,000 in the five years.

The figures emerged in a submission by ONS chief statistician Karen Dunnell to the House of Lords select committee on economic affairs.

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK, said: "This, by any standards, amounts to mass immigration.

"We simply cannot go on like this.

"The public is deeply concerned, and looking to the political leadership to address this issue openly. We really must tackle it, and without being constrained by political correctness."

Separate projections, published by the ONS last month, suggest the pace of change shows no sign of slowing.

Over the next decade, migrants will swell the population by almost two million.

The new estimate that numbers will grow by 190,000 a year is 30 per cent higher than previous figures.

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne indicated this was too high.

"This shows what could happen unless we take action now," he said.

"Frankly, it underlines the need for swift and sweeping changes to the immigration system in the next 12 months.

"Migration is bringing new wealth but also new worries to Britain."

Home Office officials said the action promised by Mr Byrne referred to policies already announced, including the points-based immigration system for migrants from outside the EU starting next year.

Return of the baby boom

The first baby boom for more than 40 years was predicted last night after a rise in the number of children born to migrants.

The ONS said foreign-born women living here are expected to have 2.5 children each. This compares to an average of 1.7 each for British-born women.

The result is a rise in the predicted total number of births for the first time in a generation, to 1.84. More than one in four children born here has at least one foreign parent, compared to 15 per cent in the 1970s.

Last year nearly 670,000 babies were born, the highest number since 1993.

Birthrates among women who have grown up in Britain remain low, a fact attributed to rising education and career achievement.

However those in their late 30s and 40s are the exception. They are having more children than before.