22 August 2008
Accoring to statistics published by the Office of National
Statistics (ONS) Britain is now home to more pensioners than
children for the first time in the country's history.
There are 11.58 million pensioners (classed as men over 65 and
women over 60) compared to 11.52 million under-16s.
In figures which show how Britain's population is ageing rapidly
the number of people aged over 80 had almost doubled over the past
three decades to 2.7 million. This age group is now the fastest
growing group due to increasing life expectancy. The number of
deaths recorded each year has dropped from 599,000 in 2001 to
571,000 in 2007.
According to the ONS, a record number of immigrants settled in
this country last year, increasing the overall population to a
record 61 million.
The state retirement age is due to increase to 68 for both men
and women under changes made in the Pensions Act 2007. The rise in
the number of over 80s in particular is likely to lead to calls
from some quarters for retirement ages to be raised further
still.
Several organisations have voiced their concerns over the
figures. Gordon Lishman, the director-general of Age Concern, said:
"Not only is the average Briton getting older, but we are also
facing longer periods of ill health in later life.
"The Government must face up to the reality of an ageing
population and make a firm commitment to improve health services
which enable people to stay healthy and independent for longer.
"So long as the Government makes appropriate plans, later life,
can, for most of us, be a time to try new things, meet new people
and be worry free."
Regionally population growth last year was fastest in Northern
Ireland. Growth was slowest in Wales, where the population
increased by 0.5 per cent to 3m, and Scotland, which also grew by
0.5 per cent to 5.1m.
The population of England rose by 0.6 per cent to 51.1m. All
English regions increased in population, with largest rises in the
south-west, by 1.1 per cent, and by 1 per cent in eastern
England.
