The age of the aged

Within 50 years, more than 1 in 3 newborns can expect to live to at least 100

MORE than one in five girls and one in seven boys born in 2019 will live until the age of 100.

Those are the latest findings from the Office for National Statistics.

The analysis revealed 18.6% of girls born this year and 13.9% of boys can expect to become centenarians. That rate has soared over time. Modern records go back as far as 1981. That year, just 8.8% of girls and 5.7% of boys could expect to live until the age of 100.

The rate is also expected to nearly double between now and the year 2068.

Projections for that year show that 34.4% of girls born that year will live until the age of 100, compared with 28.9% of boys.

The analysis also looked at average life expectancies.

The average boy born in 2019 can expect to live until the age of 87.8, while a typical girl can expect to live to 90.4.

Fast-forward to the year 2068, and boys can expect to live until an average age of 92.7 compared with 94.6 for girls.

The ONS has also identified differences in life expectancy across the UK countries.

Boys born in Scotland in 2018 have the lowest average life expectancy at 86.0 years, as do girls (88.8 years old).

Average life expectancy in the country is expected to increase to 91.5 years old for boys born in 2068 and 93.6 for girls.

Wales has the second lowest average life expectancy at 87.0 years old for boys born in 2018, and 89.8 for girls.

By 2068 life expectancy in Wales will be 92.4 years old for boys and 94.3 years old for girls.

Boys born in Northern Ireland in 2018 can expect to live to 87.1 on average rising to 92.4 in 2068 - while girls born in 2018 can expect to live to 89.8, rising to 94.3 in the next 50 years.

Meanwhile, England has the highest life expectancy.

Boys and girls born in 2018 have an average life expectancy of 87.9 years old and 90.5 years old, respectively - rising to 92.9 years for boys and 94.8 for girls born in 2068.