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 | 1891 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | [ERROR: authority is ''SRC'' but auth_note value of does not appear in SRC_TAB] | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| AGE_GROUP:65_up | 1931 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1931 Census of Scotland, County Report, Table 21 , 'Quinquennial Age-Groups and Conjugal Condition (All Ages) - All Burghs and Districts of Counties' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| TOT_POP:now | 1931 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1931 Census of Scotland, County Report, Table 1 , 'Population of Burghs, Districts of Counties, and Civil Parishes' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| AGE_GROUP:65_up | 1951 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1951 Census of Scotland, County Report, Table 15 , 'Quinquennial age-groups by conjugal condition (all ages)', for 'Burghs, Wards of Cities, Districts of Counties' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| TOT_POP:now | 1951 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1951 Census of Scotland, County Report, Table 1 , 'Comparison of population, density per 100 acres, and houses with 1931', for 'Burghs, Districts of Counties and CPs' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| AGE_GROUP:65_up | 1961 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1961 Census of Scotland, County Report, Table 6 , 'Age and Martial Condition', for 'County, LB, SB, Districts of County, NT' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| AGE_GROUP:65_up | 1971 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1971 Census of Scotland, County Report, Table 8 , 'Population by sex, age and marital condition', for 'County, local authority areas' | 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.