Share of population aged 65 and over — all countries

Share of population aged 65 and over — United Kingdom

Share of population aged 65 and over in the United Kingdom in 2025 — 19.7%. Ranked 39 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 8 pp.

2025 19.7% +0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank 39of 217
Period maximum 19.7%2025
Period minimum 11.7%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Share of population aged 65 and over — United Kingdom, 1960–20251012.51517.52019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 11.7%1962: 11.8%1964: 12.1%1966: 12.4%1968: 12.7%1970: 13.1%1972: 13.5%1974: 13.9%1976: 14.3%1978: 14.7%1980: 15%1982: 15.1%1984: 15%1986: 15.3%1988: 15.7%1990: 15.9%1992: 16%1994: 16%1996: 16%1998: 15.9%2000: 15.9%2002: 15.9%2004: 16%2006: 15.9%2008: 16%2010: 16.3%2012: 17%2014: 17.6%2016: 17.9%2018: 18.3%2020: 18.6%2022: 18.9%2024: 19.5%2025: 19.7%
Change over the period: +8 pp Annual average: 0.12 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United Kingdom

United Kingdom 19.7%
World 10.4%
Northern Europe computed 20%
High-income countries computed 20%
Share of population aged 65 and over — United Kingdom, by year United Kingdom All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 19.7 +0.2 pp
2024 19.5 +0.3 pp
2023 19.2 +0.3 pp
2022 18.9 +0.2 pp
2021 18.7 +0.1 pp
2020 18.6 +0.1 pp
2019 18.5 +0.2 pp
2018 18.3 +0.2 pp
2017 18.1 +0.2 pp
2016 17.9 +0.1 pp
2015 17.8 +0.2 pp
2014 17.6 +0.3 pp
2013 17.3 +0.4 pp
2012 17 +0.4 pp
2011 16.6 +0.2 pp
2010 16.3 +0.2 pp
2009 16.2 +0.1 pp
2008 16 +0.1 pp
2007 15.9 +0 pp
2006 15.9 −0 pp
2005 16 −0 pp
2004 16 +0 pp
2003 15.9 +0 pp
2002 15.9 +0 pp
2001 15.9 +0 pp
2000 15.9 −0 pp
1999 15.9 −0 pp
1998 15.9 −0 pp
1997 16 −0 pp
1996 16 −0 pp
1995 16 +0 pp
1994 16 +0 pp
1993 16 +0 pp
1992 16 +0 pp
1991 15.9 +0.1 pp
1990 15.9 +0.1 pp
1989 15.8 +0.2 pp
1988 15.7 +0.2 pp
1987 15.5 +0.1 pp
1986 15.3 +0.2 pp
1985 15.1 +0.2 pp
1984 15 −0 pp
1983 15 −0.1 pp
1982 15.1 −0 pp
1981 15.1 +0.1 pp
1980 15 +0.1 pp
1979 14.9 +0.2 pp
1978 14.7 +0.2 pp
1977 14.5 +0.2 pp
1976 14.3 +0.2 pp
1975 14.1 +0.2 pp
1974 13.9 +0.2 pp
1973 13.7 +0.2 pp
1972 13.5 +0.2 pp
1971 13.3 +0.2 pp
1970 13.1 +0.2 pp
1969 12.9 +0.2 pp
1968 12.7 +0.2 pp
1967 12.5 +0.2 pp
1966 12.4 +0.2 pp
1965 12.2 +0.2 pp
1964 12.1 +0.2 pp
1963 11.9 +0.1 pp
1962 11.8 +0 pp
1961 11.8 +0.1 pp
1960 11.7

About the indicator

The share of population aged 65 and over. The international threshold for an old population is 7%, for a very old one 14%. The indicator directly determines the load on the pension system and health care, which is why demographic projections use it more often than median age.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.