Population ages 65 and above in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Population ages 65 and above was 19.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population ages 65 and above in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, population ages 65 and above in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 19.7%. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 10.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population ages 65 and above in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 19.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 11.7%, in 1960.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 39th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Population ages 65 and above in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 11.7% | — |
| 1961 | 11.8% | +0.5% |
| 1962 | 11.8% | +0.4% |
| 1963 | 11.9% | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 12.1% | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 12.2% | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 12.4% | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 12.5% | +1.4% |
| 1968 | 12.7% | +1.4% |
| 1969 | 12.9% | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 13.1% | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 13.3% | +1.6% |
| 1972 | 13.5% | +1.4% |
| 1973 | 13.7% | +1.4% |
| 1974 | 13.9% | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 14.1% | +1.5% |
| 1976 | 14.3% | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 14.5% | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 14.7% | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 14.9% | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 15.0% | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 15.1% | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 15.1% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 15.0% | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 15.0% | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 15.1% | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 15.3% | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 15.5% | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 15.7% | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 15.8% | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 15.9% | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 15.9% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 16.0% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 16.0% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 16.0% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 16.0% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 16.0% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 16.0% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 15.9% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 15.9% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 15.9% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 15.9% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 15.9% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 15.9% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 16.0% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 16.0% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 15.9% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 15.9% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 16.0% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 16.2% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 16.3% | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 16.6% | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 17.0% | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 17.3% | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 17.6% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 17.8% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 17.9% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 18.1% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 18.3% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 18.5% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 18.6% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 18.7% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 18.9% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 19.2% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 19.5% | +1.4% |
| 2025 | 19.7% | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 12.2% | 11.7% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 14.0% | 13.1% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.2% | 15.0% | 15.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.0% | 15.9% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.0% | 15.9% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.5% | 16.3% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.1% | 18.6% | 19.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More health data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is population ages 65 and above in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Population ages 65 and above in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 19.7% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population ages 65 and above recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 19.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest population ages 65 and above recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.7% in 1960.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for population ages 65 and above?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 39th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population ages 65 and above rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population ages 65 and above (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Population ages 65 and above as a percentage of the total population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.