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In the United Kingdom, in 2005, according to estimates based on the 2001 Census of Population, there were more than 11 million people of state pension age and over (11,244,000):
– 9,381,000 in England
– 975,000 in Scotland
– 609,000 in Wales
– 280,000 in Northern Ireland. (1)

In 2005, the population of the United Kingdom, based on mid-year estimates, was 60,209,000. Of this figure, 18.7% were over pensionable age:
– 7,100,000 were women aged 60 and over (of whom 5,505,000 were aged 65 and over)
– 4,143,000 were men aged 65 and over
– 9,647,000 were people aged 65 and over
– 4,599,000 were people aged 75 and over
– 1,175,000 were people aged 85 and over. (2)

A man of 60 could expect to live for another 20.5 years and a woman of the same age for 23.6 years, based on data for the years 2003-2005. (3)

It is projected that by mid-2007, in the United Kingdom, 11,000 people will be aged 100 and over. (4)

Looking at the minority ethnic population in the United Kingdom, in 2001, within specific groups:
– 11% of Black-Caribbean people were aged over 65
– 2% of Black-African people were aged over 65
– 7% of Indian people were aged over 65
– 4% of Pakistani people were aged over 65
– 3% of Bangladeshi people were aged over 65
– 5% of Chinese people were aged over 65. (5)

The number of people over pensionable age, taking account of the increase in the women’s state pension age, is projected to increase from nearly 11.4 million in 2006 to 12.2 million in 2011, and will rise to over 13.9 million by 2026, reaching over 15.3 million in 2031.

The change in state pension age for women will be phased in between 2010 and 2020 and will not affect anyone born before 6 April 1950. (6)

According to estimates, 75% of those aged 65 and over voted at the 2005 General Election compared to 37% of those aged 18-24. (7)

Sources of data used

(1) Population Trends, (PT 126) 126, Winter 2006, National Statistics © Crown Copyright 2006,
table 1.4 (Population: age and sex). www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/
PopTrends126.pdf
(2) PT 126, op cit, table 1.4 (Population: age and sex).
(3) Interim Life Tables, Office for National Statistics (ONS) © Crown Copyright, (Expectation of life
United Kingdom, males, based on data for the years 2003-2005); (Expectation of life, females,
based on data for the years 2003-2005).
www.gad.gov.uk/Life_tables/docs/wltukf0305.xls
www.gad.gov.uk/Life_tables/docs/wltukm0305.xls (06/03/07)
(4) Population projections by the Government Actuary, United Kingdom. Projected populations at midyears by age last birthday, 2004-based, The Government Actuaries Department (GAD)
© Crown Copyright 2005.
www.gad.gov.uk/Population/2004/uk/wuk04singyear.xls (06/03/07)
(5) Social Trends 2006, 36, National Statistics © Crown Copyright 2006, table 1.5 (Population:
by ethnic group and age, 2001 Great Britain).
(6) National population projections 2004-based, National Statistics © Crown Copyright 2006,
table 3.2 (Actual and projected population by age United Kingdom 2004-2031).
www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/
theme_population/PP2_No25.pdf
(7) The growing importance of older voters: an electoral demographical model for analysis of the
changing age structure of the electorate, by Scott Davidson. Loughborough University, 2006.
www.20millionvotes.org.uk/reports/
electoral_demography_report.pdf

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