This graph shows the resident population projection of elderly people in the United Kingdom from 2020 to 2050, by age group. There is expected to be an overall growth in the number of elderly people. It is expected that all age groups over the age of 60 are expected to increase in number; most substantially, those aged over 80 years.

Indicators included have been derived from the published 2019 mid-year population estimates for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. These are the number of persons and percentage of the population aged 65 years and over, 85 years and over, 0 to 15 years, 16 to 64 years, 16 years to State Pension age, State Pension age and over, median age and the Old Age Dependency Ratio (the number of people of State Pension age per 1000 of those aged 16 years to below State Pension age).

This dataset has been produced by the Ageing Analysis Team for inclusion in a subnational ageing tool, which was published in July 2020. The tool enables users to compare latest and projected measures of ageing for up to four different areas through selection on a map or from a drop-down menu.

This statistic shows the distribution of elderly population (aged 65 and over) as a share of population in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1976 to 2046. Over this 70 year period the share of elderly people within the population of the UK is expected to increase by over ** percent, reaching **** percent of the forecast total population of 2046.

Projected indicators included are derived from the published 2018-based subnational population projections for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland up to the year 2043. The indicators are the projected percentage of the population aged 65 years and over, 85 years and over, 0 to 15 years, 16 to 64 years, 16 years to State Pension age, State Pension age and over, median age and the Old Age Dependency Ratio (the number of people of State Pension age per 1000 of those aged 16 years to below State Pension age).

This dataset has been produced by the Ageing Analysis Team for inclusion in the subnational ageing tool, which was published on July 20, 2020 (see link in Related datasets). The tool is interactive, and users can compare latest and projected measures of ageing for up to four different areas through selection on a map or from a drop-down menu.

Note on data sources: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland independently publish subnational population projections and the data available here are a compilation of these datasets. The ONS publish national level data for the UK, England, Wales and England & Wales, which has been included. National level data for Scotland and Northern Ireland have been taken from their subnational population projections datasets.

Percentage of the total population who are of retirement age (60+ Females, 65+ Males), by SOA.

There were almost 4.8 million people aged between 30 and 34 in the United Kingdom in 2024, making it the most populous age group in that year. Those aged between 35 and 39 years comprised the next most numerous age group in this year, at over 4.78 million people. Millennials overtake Boomers as biggest generation Post-war demographic trends, particularly the 'baby boom' phenomenon, have significantly influenced the current age distribution in the UK. The postwar peak of live births in 1947 resulted in the dominance of the Baby Boomer generation for several decades, until 2020 when Millennials became the largest generational cohort, surpassing the Boomers for the first time. The following year, the UK Boomer population was then overtaken by Generation X, the generation born between Boomers and Millennials. Generation Z, however, remains smaller than the three generations that preceded it, at 12.9 million individuals in 2022. Aging UK population poses challenges The median age of the UK population is projected to reach 44.5 years by 2050, compared to 34.9 years in 1950. This aging trend is indicative of broader global demographic shifts, with the median age of people worldwide forecasted to increase from 23.6 years in 1950 to 41.9 years by 2100. How countries like the UK manage their aging populations will be one of the key challenges of the next few decades. It is likely the UK's struggling National Health Service (NHS) will come under even more pressure in the coming years. There are also tough economic questions, in particular as more people enter retirement age and the UK's working population gets smaller in relation to it.

United Kingdom Population: UK: Aged 60 & Over F & 65 & Over M data was reported at 11,989.322 Person th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 11,814.085 Person th for 2016. United Kingdom Population: UK: Aged 60 & Over F & 65 & Over M data is updated yearly, averaging 10,605.000 Person th from Jun 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14,992.354 Person th in 2014 and a record low of 9,123.000 Person th in 1971. United Kingdom Population: UK: Aged 60 & Over F & 65 & Over M data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.G001: Population.

In 2024, there were estimated to be 976,481 people who were aged 33 in the United Kingdom, the most of any age in this year. The two largest age groups during this year were 30-34, and 35-39, at 4.8 million and 4.78 million people respectively. There is also a noticeable spike of 673,831 people who were aged 77, which is due to the high number of births that followed the end of the Second World War. Over one million born in 1964 In post-war Britain, there have only been two years when the number of live births was over one million, in 1947 and in 1964. The number of births recorded in the years between these two years was consistently high as well, with 1955 having the fewest births in this period at 789,000. This meant that until relatively recently, Baby Boomers were the largest generational cohort in the UK. As of 2024, there were approximately 13.4 million Baby Boomers, compared with 14 million in Generation X, 15 million Millennials, and 13.6 million members of Gen Z. The youngest generation in the UK, Generation Alpha, numbered approximately 9.2 million in the same year. Median age to hit 44.5 years by 2050 The population of the United Kingdom is aging at a substantial rate, with the median age of the population expected to reach 44.5 years by 2050. By comparison, in 1950 the average age in the United Kingdom stood at 34.9 years. This phenomenon is not unique to the United Kingdom, with median age of people worldwide increasing from 23.6 years in 1950 to a forecasted 41.9 years by 2100. As of 2024, the region with the oldest median age in the UK was South West England, at 43.7 years, compared with 35.7 in London, the region with the youngest median age.

This statistic depicts the age distribution of the United Kingdom from 2014 to 2024. In 2024, about 17.19 percent of the population in the United Kingdom fell into the 0-14 year category, 63.32 percent into the 15-64 age group and 19.5 percent were over 65 years of age. The same year, the total UK population amounted to about 67.26 million people.

United Kingdom UK: Population: as % of Total: Aged 65 and Above data was reported at 18.517 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 18.350 % for 2016. United Kingdom UK: Population: as % of Total: Aged 65 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 15.646 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.517 % in 2017 and a record low of 11.761 % in 1960. United Kingdom UK: Population: as % of Total: Aged 65 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population ages 65 and above as a percentage of the total population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average;

These data tables underlie the ‘Ageing in the UK’ interactive mapping tool. Using the tool helps bring these data alive, allowing you to analyse the age structure of the population at the local area level more easily. You can see how the population has aged over time and is projected to continue to age by selecting from a list of indicators of population ageing, such as median age, and animating the map. It is also possible to export jpegs of the maps you produce. Source agency: Office for National Statistics Designation: Official Statistics not designated as National Statistics Language: English Alternative title: Ageing in the UK Datasets

Annual mid-year population estimates for those aged 90 years and over by sex and single year of age (90 to 104 years), and the 105 years and over age group, UK.

Graph and download economic data for Population ages 65 and above for the United Kingdom (SPPOP65UPTOZSGBR) from 1960 to 2024 about 65-years +, United Kingdom, and population.

Based on the mid-year population estimates, this is the number of people aged under 16.Population estimates relate to the number of people who were usually resident in an area at the mid-year point. Further details can be found at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/specific/population-and-migration/an-overview-of-ons-s-population-statistics/index.html

Data is Powered by LG Inform Plus and automatically checked for new data on the 3rd of each month.

United Kingdom Population: England & Wales: Aged 75 to 84 data was reported at 3,388.344 Person th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,342.771 Person th for 2016. United Kingdom Population: England & Wales: Aged 75 to 84 data is updated yearly, averaging 2,788.000 Person th from Jun 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,388.344 Person th in 2017 and a record low of 1,926.000 Person th in 1971. United Kingdom Population: England & Wales: Aged 75 to 84 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.G002: Population: England and Wales.

National and subnational mid-year population estimates for the UK and its constituent countries by administrative area, age and sex (including components of population change, median age and population density).

United Kingdom Population: UK: Aged 65 to 74 data was reported at 6,584.661 Person th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 6,488.582 Person th for 2016. United Kingdom Population: UK: Aged 65 to 74 data is updated yearly, averaging 5,066.000 Person th from Jun 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6,584.661 Person th in 2017 and a record low of 4,764.000 Person th in 1971. United Kingdom Population: UK: Aged 65 to 74 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.G001: Population.

Population of the very elderly (including centenarians) by gender, single year of age (90 to 104) and by age groups (90-99, 100+ and 105+) for the UK and England & Wales. Source agency: Office for National Statistics Designation: National Statistics Language: English Alternative title: 90+ Population Estimates

This graph shows the resident population projection of middle aged people in the United Kingdom from 2020 to 2050, by age group. There is expected to be an overall growth in the numbers of middle aged people, however certain age groups are expected to fall in number, such as those aged from 50 to 54 years and 55 to 59 years.

United Kingdom Population: UK: Male: Aged 60 to 64 data was reported at 1,763.457 Person th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,731.293 Person th for 2016. United Kingdom Population: UK: Male: Aged 60 to 64 data is updated yearly, averaging 1,463.000 Person th from Jun 1971 (Median) to 2017, with 47 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,863.000 Person th in 2011 and a record low of 1,276.000 Person th in 1979. United Kingdom Population: UK: Male: Aged 60 to 64 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.G001: Population.