LONDON, U.K - Almost a quarter of the population will be aged 65 or over within two decades according to shock official figures on Britain's "demographic time bomb".
They give a graphic insight into the impact of increasing life expectancy.
Pensions experts last night warned that the figures underlined the need for urgent reform of the pensions system. Ros Altmann, a former pensions adviser to Tony Blair, said the figures showed that "Britain's demographic time bomb is on the verge of exploding".
"It is certainly true that the population is ageing rapidly, but it really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone in government. I find it astonishing that although this rise has been on the cards for years our policies and politicians have not risen to the challenge," he said.
Source: Gulfnews
They give a graphic insight into the impact of increasing life expectancy.
- In many parts of the country more than half the population will be aged over 50 within two decades, the figures compiled by the Office for National Statistics reveal.
- West Somerset is forecast to have the highest average age in the country, with half of all people aged over 60, and 41 per cent aged over 65.
- Average ages are rising fastest in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, where the number of over-65s is forecast to rise by 13.9 per cent over the next two decades. By 2031 half of the town's population will be aged over 58.9, compared to 50.6 today and 41.5 in 1992.
- Other areas forecast to have an older population include North Norfolk, where more than half of people will be aged over 57 by 2031, and South Shropshire, where half of people will be aged 56.8 or over.
- But the picture differs hugely across the country. In areas of high immigration, the average age is forecast to fall — reflecting the fact that immigrant families tend to have more children.
- In West Somerset the median age — the middle point between the youngest and oldest — will be 59.9 by 2031. But in Newham, East London, which is home to a huge immigrant community, the median age will be just 31.4.
- In neighbouring Barking and Dagenham it is actually forecast to fall. In Birmingham the median age will be 33.4, while in Nottingham it will be 32.3. Across the country the median age will rise from 39.6 today to 41.8 in 2031.
- Currently, 17 per cent of the population is aged 65 or over, but this will rise to 23 per cent by 2031.
- In total the United Kingdom will have 5.6million more over-65s in 20 years' time than it does today.
Pensions experts last night warned that the figures underlined the need for urgent reform of the pensions system. Ros Altmann, a former pensions adviser to Tony Blair, said the figures showed that "Britain's demographic time bomb is on the verge of exploding"."It is certainly true that the population is ageing rapidly, but it really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone in government. I find it astonishing that although this rise has been on the cards for years our policies and politicians have not risen to the challenge," he said.
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