GREY BRITAIN

Over-70s up by 25% during the past decade Population rises by 361,000 in 12 months 50.8yrs 49.9yrs

THE number of people aged over 70 has grown by a quarter in the past decade, figures reveal.

Charities yesterday warned the “chronically underfunded” social care system will not be able to cope with the demands of an increasing elderly population, calling for urgent action.

It came as the Office for National Statistic said the UK’S population grew by 361,000 in the year to mid-2019 – the same number that live in Leicester.

It hit 66.8 million, but growth has slowed to the lowest rate for 15 years.

There were 722,000 births, the fewest since mid-2005.

Net international migration – the difference between people coming and leaving – of 231,000 was 44,000 fewer than in the year to mid-2018.

This change was a result of around 17,000 fewer immigrants arriving and 28,000 more people leaving.

And there were 593,000 deaths, 5% down on the previous year.

Population Matters director Robin Maynard said: “More people consuming more stuff lessens our quality of life, produces more emissions, uses more of the Earth’s resources and puts more pressure on our threatened natural environment.”

CHILDREN

While the number of children under six increased by 8% from mid-2009 to mid-2019, the number of people aged 65 and over went up by 23%.

The working age population – those 16 to 64 – showed the lowest growth of any age group , rising by just 3%.

The median age for the population of the UK in mid-2019 was 40.3, a year older than in mid-2009.

Age UK charity director Caroline Abrahams said: “Now more than ever there is the need to invest in an expansion of the kinds of services older people require. Our social care system has been chronically underfunded for years and will simply not be able to cope with the extra demand unless substantially more money is found.”

Louise Ansari, of the Centre for Ageing Better, said: “We need to future-proof our housing, health systems, workplaces and communities.”

Northern Ireland’s population saw the fastest growth of the UK’S four nations, rising by 0.64%.

England saw estimated growth of 0.55%, Scotland of 0.46% and Wales of just 0.45%.