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Living Alone

(GB) In 2005 in the 65-74 age group, 19% of men and 33% of women lived alone, and 29% of men and 60% of women aged 75 and over lived alone. (24)

(GB) In 2004 the likelihood of living alone increased with age, with 47% of those aged 75 and over living alone, compared to 12% of those aged 25-44. (25)

(GB) In 2005, of people aged:
65 to    74 75 and over
76%     65% of men were married
58%     28% of women were married
9%       24% of men were widowed
26%     61% of women were widowed. (26)

Leisure, Learning and Computers

(GB) In 2006, 49% of households with 2 adults, 1 or both aged 60 or over, and 16% of single person households aged 60 or over owned a home computer. (27)

In 2006, it is estimated that 28% of people aged 65 or over, had access to the internet at home. (28)

In 2006, it is estimated that 52% of people aged 65 or over, had access to digital television. (29)

Digital switchover will be phased in between 2008 and 2012, led by Whitehaven, Cumbria in October 2007. (The process will take place ITV region by ITV region). (30)

(GB) In 2006, 19% of people aged 65-74, and 10% of people aged 75 and over, took part in some sort of adult learning. (31)

(GB) In 2002, walking was the most popular physical activity for older people, with 39% of men and 35% of women aged 60-69, 27% of men and 18% of women aged 70 and over, engaging in a walk of two miles or over in the four weeks before interview. (32)

(GB) In 2005, it is estimated that 73% of men and 35% of women aged 70 and over held a full car driving licence, compared to 81% of all men and 63% of all women. (33)

(GB) In 2002, of those interviewed for the General Household Survey, 99% of those aged 60-69 and 99% of those aged 70 and over had watched television during the previous month. The next most popular home-based leisure activity was listening to the radio (82% and 76%), followed bylistening to records/tapes (71% and 57%). (34)

Sources of data used

(24) General Household Survey: results for 2005 (GHS), National Statistics © Crown Copyright 2006,
table 3.4 (Percentage of men and women living alone by age).
www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/
GHS05/GeneralHouseholdSurvey2005.pdf
(25) Ibid, table 3.3 (Percentage living alone, by age: 1973-2005).
(26) Ibid, table 5.2(b) (Marital status by sex and age).
(27) Ibid, table 4.22 (Consumer durables… by household type).
(28) The Consumer Experience: research report, Ofcom 2006, figure 166 (Age and socio-economic profile
of internet owners).www.ofcom.org.uk/research/tce/report
(29) Ibid, figure 170 (Age and socio-economic profile of owners of digital TV services).
(30) Getting set for digital, www.digitaluk.co.uk/en.html (23/05/07)
(31) Green Shoots?: the NIACE survey on adult participation in learning 2006. NIACE 2006,
table 7 (Participation in learning 2006, by age).
(32) Sport and leisure: results from the sport and leisure module of the 2002 General Household Survey,
National Statistics © Crown Copyright 2004, table 5 (Sports, games and physical activities:
participation rates in the 4 weeks before interview by sex and age).
(33) Transport Statistics of Great Britain, Department for Transport © Crown Copyright 2006, table 9.16
(Private motoring: full car driving licence holders by age and gender…).
www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/tsgb
(34) Sport and leisure: results from the sport and leisure module of the 2002 General Household Survey,
op cit, table 22 (Selected leisure activities: participation rates in the 4 weeks before interview by sex and age).

Data from Government sources reproduced under the terms of the Click-Use licence.