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 | 1971 | CASWEB_1971 | Census 1971 data | UK Data Service, Census 1971 data (Tables SAS06 and SAS07) | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| AGE_GROUP:65_up | 1981 | CASWEB_1981 | Census 1981 data | UK Data Service, Census 1981 data (Table SAS02: "Age and Marital Status: All Residents) | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| AGE_GROUP:65_up | 1991 | NOMIS | NOMIS - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics | Office for National Statistics, NOMIS - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics (Table S02 Age and marital status: Residents [100%]) | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| AGE_GROUP:65_up | 2001 | NOMIS | NOMIS - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics | Office for National Statistics, NOMIS - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics (Table CS001 - Age by sex and resident type) | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| AGE_GROUP:65_up | 2011 | NOMIS | NOMIS - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics | Office for National Statistics, NOMIS - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics (Table LC1117EW - "Sex by age") | Exact count provided by a government statistical office for this area |
| AGE_GROUP:65_up | 2021 | ONS_CustomData | ONS "Create a Custom Dataset" | Office for National Statistics, ONS "Create a Custom Dataset" ("Age" (23 way) by "Sex") | 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.