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UK population age breakdown: prediction
The UK population has grown from approximately 50 million in 1951 to its 2006 level of 60 million. This represents a 20% increase over a fifty five year period and it continues to grow.
Consider the percentage of the total population in different age ranges: can you guess the percentages in each age range?
- 0-14 years
- 15-29 years
- 30-44 years
- 45-59 years
- 60-74 years
- 75 or more
When you are finished click on ‘Next’ to see if you were right.
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UK population age breakdown: actual
- 0-14 years: 19%
- 15-29 years: 19%
- 30-44 years: 22.5%
- 45-59 years: 19%
- 60-74 years: 13%
- 75+ years: 7.5%
The population is not just growing but ‘ageing’. The average age in the UK has risen, from 34.1 years in 1971 to 38.6 in 2004 with latest forecasts predicting that this will rise again to about 42.1 years in 2031.
The 2001 census showed that for the first time there were more people in the 60+ age group than there were children under 14 years.
In particular, there has been a marked increase in the numbers of people aged 85+, from 7 per cent in 1971 to 12 per cent in 2004. In 1951, people in this age group made up 0.4% of the total population (0.2 million); in 2001 this percentage had risen to 1.9% (1.1 million).
Ref: Office of National Statistics (2006).
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Diversity in the older population
As the older population increases in size it becomes more diverse. This is reflected in the wide range, and individuality, of the ageing experience and how it can vary across generations as well as between ethnic groups, the sexes, social classes and across the life course.
Women outnumber men in the older age groups. This reflects the fact that men tend to die younger. The gender difference is particularly pronounced in those aged 85+. In 2003 there were 40 men per 100 women in this age group.
However, the gender gap is narrowing due to improvements in health outcomes for mid life and older men in recent years. (Victor (2005).
Currently, a very small proportion of people in the older population are from black and minority ethnic groups. Black and Minority Ethnic elders account for 2.5 per cent of all those aged 65 and over, and only 1.1 per cent of those aged 85 and over – around 13,000 people.
African Caribbean and Asian elders are the biggest ethnic groups; this reflects migration patterns during the 1960’s and 70’s. In the future there will be higher numbers of minority elders; the population will also be more ethnically diverse.
Ref: Soule et al (2005).
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When does old age start?
Before leaving this exercise it is useful to think about when ‘old age’ begins.
When do you think old age begins, at retirement? At 60?
Click ‘Answer’ once you’ve come to a decision.
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When does old age start? Answer?
There is no ‘right answer’ to this question but there are a number of common ways to define ‘old age’. This is an issue that is addressed later in the Learning Object.
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Living situations
The type of household that older people live in is influenced by several factors including their age, gender, whether they are married and by their health status. This section will review the living situations of people aged 65 and over. To begin with look at the percentages below.
- 55%
- 35%
- 5%
- 5%
Can you identify which of the following living situations correspond with each percentage above?
- Care home
- Living alone
- Living with spouse
- Other
Click on ‘Answer’ when you have finished.
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Living situations: Answer
- 55% = Living with Spouse
- 35% = Living alone
- 5% = Care home
- 5% = Other
Whilst this exercise is interesting it masks big differences across the older population and between men and women. That the vast majority of older people live in private households in the community is a headline fact but not one you are likely to see in any newspaper!
Now explore the different situations by clicking on each below. Each link will open a page where you can meet a representative from each group.
Living with spouse
70 per cent of men aged over 65 years live as part of a couple whereas only 40 per cent of older women do. This reflects the fact that women are more likely to outlive their husbands.
It is becoming increasingly common for people to remarry, with older men who have become widowed or divorced being more likely to remarry than their female counterparts.
Living together has important implications in terms of heath and well-being because of the care and support that people living in a couple can offer one another and because couples tend to cope better financially.
Ref: Office for National Statistics (2004).
Terence and Martha are an elderly couple living together:
Terence: “We have a good little system going. She helps me remember to take all my pills - and, believe me, there’s one hell of a lot of them to take! I help her get around the place a bit and with little jobs like getting lids off and dealing with those awkward milk cartons. Between the two of us, we manage everything OK.”
Martha: “I suppose the main thing that I’ve noticed change is that he won’t do some of the things he used to do ñ like deal with some of the bills. I think it’s because he’s not so confident as he used to be. Gets worried that he’ll mess it up I suppose. But since I’ve learned how to do it, I don’t mind taking all that on now.”
Living alone
Greater financial independence, improvements in health, a rise in the rate of divorce and negative attitudes towards care homes all play their part in encouraging independent living.
Older women are much more likely to live alone; 60 per cent of women aged 75 and over live alone compared with 29 per cent of men. Older Asian people are less likely to live alone than other groups, although this appears to be changing.
Although living alone does not necessarily mean a person will feel isolated or lonely, loneliness is reported by a significant minority of older people.
Ref: Soule st al, (2005).
Naomi lives alone, and said:
“When they visit, my daughter and son say to me that I must get lonely, and wouldn’t I want more people around me. But I don’t really get lonely much; I’m quite happy watching the telly and reading my paper, and I have my own little routine which I like. I don’t like it when that gets messed up!
“I go down to the newsagent every day to buy the paper and I get a scratch card sometimes as well. My brother Ed picks me up every week to go to the bingo. My health’s not so good these days but I get by. At 79, I’m not doing so bad and I don’t like it when people fuss.”
In a care home
There are an estimated 13,400 care homes in the UK and the majority of the half a million people who live in them are aged over 75 years. The number of care home places has actually decreased in recent years, despite the rise in numbers of older people.
All care homes residents have complex – and often – multiple health and social care needs; many have dementia. Care homes come in many different sizes and types, and they can be run by local authorities, charities or private individuals.
In most cases, it is some sort of crisis that leads to admission to a care home, such as when an older person falls at home. Moving into a care home is, for some, a postive choice.
Ref: Age Concern (2006).
John lives in a care home, and said:
“Choosing to move into The Willows was difficult, but not as difficult as for some folk here. I’ve heard all sorts of stories since I’ve been here, about people feeling they had to come when they really didn’t want to. For me, the hardest thing was leaving behind the old house, with all the memories it has for me.
“My main worry was that I just didn’t want to be surrounded by people I didn’t get on with. But then, you only need to make one or two friends and things feel more homely. The staff are lovely on the whole, although some of the younger ones are a bit patronising. They seem to forget that I used to be a nurse myself!”
Other
This area incorporates a number of different living situations, the most common of which is living with a child. A survey conducted in 1999 showed that half of people aged 50 years still have at least one living parent.
As people age, and if a partner is absent (for example through death), then there is a greater likelihood of them living with their children. This applies to 6.7 per cent of women and 3.7 per cent of men aged 85 and over.
There are important differences in terms of gender and ethnicity in living arrangements. For example, 68 per cent of Asian women age 85 or over live in ‘complex’ household situations involving more than two generations living together.
There are a rising number of people choosing to live in ‘housing with extra care’; a relatively new development which provides housing alongside support services.
Ref: Economic and Social Research Council (2006). Office for National Statistics (2004), Soule et al, (2005).
Ravinder lives with her children, she says:
“For my generation, we are more likely to live with our sons and daughters as we grow old. It’s a good way of doing things ñ good for everyone. I think it is especially good for the younger ones. It keeps me busy and it is what I’m used to although things between us are not always that easy. I don’t know how people cope with living on their own; rattling around in big old houses with nothing to do!
“But I can’t see the younger generation carrying this on. They are all too busy nowadays and more and more of them move away from their home town. Houses are becoming so small compared to what they used to be, so it’s much harder to fit everyone in without driving each other crazy! I’m very lucky to be in my position. Goodness knows how it will be in the future.”