Census: One in six people in England and Wales is an OAP as under 15s decline
ONE in six people in England and Wales is an OAP, new figures show.
There are now 11.1million over-65s — up from 9.2million in 2011’s census.
But under-15s make up less of the population than ten years ago — 10.37million, or 17.4 per cent, compared to 10.49million, or 17.6 per cent.
Overall the population surged to 59.6million in 2021 — up 3.5million since 2011 and the highest since records began in 1801.
When Northern Ireland and Scotland are added, the UK total almost tops 67million, and is on track to pass 70million within five years, say the Office for National Statistics figues.
Pete Benton, at the ONS, said: “Today’s census statistics paint a rich and detailed snapshot of the nation and how we were living during the pandemic.”
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The East of England had the biggest regional population rise — 488,000 people or 8.8 per cent.
The smallest increase was in the North East — up 50,000 or 1.9 per cent.
Women make up 51 per cent of England and Wales’s population, broadly the same as in 2011. The number of people aged 90 and over rose to 527,900, up from 429,017 ten years earlier.
London had the lowest proportion of over-65s (11.9 per cent), while the South West had the highest (22.3 per cent).
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The capital’s borough of Tower Hamlets saw the biggest percentage rise, up 22.1.
Kensington & Chelsea had the biggest fall, down 9.6 per cent.
