Percentage Aged over 65
R_AGE_65_up = (AGE_GROUP:65_up * 100.0) / TOT_POP:now
| Data Role | Period Covered | Authority | Source | Details | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGE_GROUP:65_up | 1921 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1921 Census of England and Wales, County Report, Table 14 , 'Ages (quinquennial groups) and Marital Conditions in combination' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| TOT_POP:now | 1921 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1921 Census of England and Wales, County Report, Table 3 , 'Population, Acreage, Private Families and Dwellings' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| AGE_GROUP:65_up | 1931 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1931 Census of England and Wales, County Report Part I, Table 14 , 'Ages (quinquennial groups) and Marital Conditions' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| TOT_POP:now | 1931 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1931 Census of England and Wales, County Report Part I, Table 3 , 'Population, Acreage, Private Families and Dwellings' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| AGE_GROUP:65_up | 1951 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1951 Census of England and Wales, County Report, Table 21 , 'Ages (quinary) by Marital Condition', for 'AC, Urban Area with population of 50,000 or more' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| TOT_POP:now | 1951 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1951 Census of England and Wales, County Report, Table 3 , 'Acreage, Population, Private Households and Dwellings', for 'AC, MB, UD, RD; Wards of CB, MB; CP, NT' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| AGE_GROUP:65_up | 1961 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1961 Census of England and Wales, County Report, Table 6 , 'Age and Marital Condition', for 'LAA, Con, NT' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| TOT_POP:now | 1961 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1961 Census of England and Wales, County Report, Table 3 , 'Acreage, Population, Private Households and Dwellings', for 'LAA, Wards, CP in RD, Con, NT' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
The proportion of the population aged over 65 was close to 5% in all censuses
from 1851 to 1911, but it then tripled during the 20th century.
In the nineteenth century, the elderly can be seen as a residual, concentrated mainly in rural areas.
In 1851, this meant mainly the rural periphery: the south west, Norfolk and Suffolk, and most of Wales.
The highlands of Scotland, conversely, contained relatively few elderly people due to poor life expectancy.
By 1951, we begin to see a new pattern as people began to expect a lengthy retirement
in which some could live where they pleased.
The elderly themselves became migrants, moving to rural areas and especially to seaside areas.
By the early 21st century, the country was almost ringed by a necklace of districts with over 20% aged over 65.