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 | 1851 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1851 Census of Great Britain, Ages, Table [1] , 'Ages of the People' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| TOT_POP:now | 1851 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1851 Census of Great Britain, Population tables 2, Table [1] , 'Population Abstract' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| AGE_GROUP:65_up | 1861 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1861 Census of England and Wales, Ages, Table 3 , 'Ages of Males and Females in Sub-Districts' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| AGE_GROUP:65_up | 1871 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1871 Census of England and Wales, Ages, Table 3 , 'Ages of Males and Females in Registrars' Sub-Districts' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| AGE_GROUP:65_up | 1881 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1881 Census of England and Wales, Ages, Table 3 , 'Ages of Males and Females in Registration Sub-Districts' | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| TOT_POP:now | 1881 | SRC | GBH Source Documentation System | 1881 Census of England and Wales, Population tables 2, Table 4 , 'Area, Houses, and Population of Civil Parishes in the several Registration Sub-Districts in 1871 and 1881' | 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.