An article said that the number of people above state pension age in 2007 exceeded those aged under 16 for the first time ever, and older people made up the fastest-growing group in the population. In 2007, 9.8 million people were aged over 65: but by 2032 this figure was projected to rise to 16.1 million – equivalent to almost 1 in 4 of the population.
Source: Karen Dunnell, 'Ageing and mortality in the UK', Population Trends 134, Winter 2008, Office for National Statistics, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Article | ONS press release | Alzheimers Society press release | BBC report
Date: 2008-Dec
The Scottish Government published a policy statement giving details of plans for the 2011 Census. There would be new questions on language, household income, and national identity.
Source: Scotland's Census 2011: A Government Statement, Scottish Government (0131 556 8400)
Links: Statement | SG press release
Date: 2008-Dec
The government published a White Paper giving details of the planned 2011 Census of population. People would be asked questions about their citizenship, national identity, and mastery of English for the first time.
Source: Helping to Shape Tomorrow: The 2011 Census of Population and Housing in England and Wales, Cm 7513, Cabinet Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Hansard | NLGN press release | BBC report | FT report
Date: 2008-Dec
An article sought to extend the understanding of migration by using population turnover and churn as measures of population stability. Turnover was a measure of the intensity of migration into and out of a district, whereas 'churn' incorporated these flows and also included the flows that took place within each district. The highest levels of turnover and churn were found in London and some of the more dynamic urban areas, whereas the lowest levels were found in rural and previously industrial areas. Age had a significant effect on these measures with the population in their late teens and early twenties being the least stable and older populations being more stable.
Source: Adam Dennett and John Stillwell, 'Population turnover and churn: enhancing understanding of internal migration in Britain through measures of stability', Population Trends 134, Winter 2008, Office for National Statistics, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Article
Date: 2008-Dec
The population of the United Kingdom was 60,975,000 in mid-2007, up by 388,000 (0.6 per cent) on the previous year and nearly 2 million more than in mid-2001. Average annual population growth since 2001 had been 0.5 per cent, compared with 0.3 per cent per year between 1991 and 2001 and 0.2 per cent between 1981 and 1991. Net migration into the United Kingdom accounted for just over half – 52 per cent – of all population growth during the 12 months to mid-2007, compared with 55 per cent in 2006 and 72 per cent in 2001. There were more pensioners than children for the first time in the country's history
Source: Press release 21 August 2008, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: ONS press release | OPT press release | Age Concern press release | Help the Aged press release | Guardian report | Telegraph report | BBC report | FT report
Date: 2008-Aug
A think-tank report said that the information gathered through the ten-yearly Census would be out of date by the time it was published, would be insufficiently detailed, and could underestimate the number of people living in Britain. The Census results could not accurately reflect the true state of Britain because of poor-quality information on households, high rates of population mobility, and a growing reluctance to fill in official forms. The 2011 Census should be scrapped, and the money saved spent on cheaper 'mini-censuses'.
Source: Nigel Keohane, Local Counts: The future of the census, New Local Government Network (020 7357 0051)
Links: Report | NLGN press release | BBC report | Telegraph report
Date: 2008-Aug
The estimated population of Scotland was 5,144,200 in mid-2007. This was a rise of 27,300 people on the previous year, taking it to its highest level since 1983.
Source: Mid-2007 Population Estimates Scotland, General Register Office for Scotland (0131 314 4243)
Links: Report | GROS press release | SG press release | BBC report
Date: 2008-Jul
An article examined trends in the population of the oldest old (over 90), and demographic causes of the rapid increase in centenarians.
Source: Ercilia Dini and Shayla Goldring, 'Estimating the changing population of the "oldest old"', Population Trends 132, Summer 2008, Office for National Statistics, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Article | ONS press release
Date: 2008-Jun
A report presented the results of new (2006-based) projections of the population of the United Kingdom and its constituent countries. The population of the UK was projected to increase from an estimated 60.6 million in 2006, passing 65 million in 2016 and 70 million in 2028, to reach 71.1 million by 2031.
Source: Helen Bray (ed.), National Population Projections: 2006-based, Series PP2 26, Office for National Statistics, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Jun
An article examined the field test conducted in May and June 2007 as part of planning and preparation for the Census of population and housing in England and Wales in 2011. It summarized the evaluation results and, where decided, decisions for 2011 on four key aspects of the test:: delivery method (post-out compared with hand delivery); inclusion of an income question; outsourcing recruitment, training, and pay; and liaison with local authorities.
Source: Garnett Compton, 'The 2007 Census test: evaluation of key objectives', Population Trends 132, Summer 2008, Office for National Statistics, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Article | ONS press release
Date: 2008-Jun
A report by a committee of MPs said that existing methods of estimating migration and population figures were not 'fit for purpose'.
Source: Counting the Population, Eleventh Report (Session 2007-08), HC 183, House of Commons Treasury Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Statistics Authority press release | London Councils press release | BBC report | FT report
Date: 2008-May
A report gave forward projections of the number of households in Scotland up to 2031, based on the estimated population of Scotland in mid-2006. Between 2006 and 2031, the number of households in Scotland was projected to increase by 19 per cent to 2.7 million.
Source: Household Projections for Scotland: 2006-based, General Register Office for Scotland (0131 314 4243)
Links: Report | GROS press release
Date: 2008-May
An article presented the main results, and the underlying assumptions, from the 2006-based national population projections.
Source: Helen Bray, '2006-based national population projections for the UK and constituent countries', Population Trends 131, Spring 2008, Office for National Statistics, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Article
Date: 2008-Mar
It was announced that 27 March 2011 had been chosen as the planned date of the next Census in England and Wales. A rehearsal for the 2011 Census would be carried out in 2009.
Source: Press release 26 March 2008, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: ONS press release
Date: 2008-Mar
A report said that Scotland's population was expected to increase by about 5 per cent between 2006 and 2031. Population numbers were expected to rise in 15 of the 32 council areas and fall in the other 17 areas.
Source: Population Projections Scotland (2006-based): Population projections by sex, age and administrative area, General Register Office for Scotland (0131 314 4243)
Links: Report | GROS press release | BBC report
Date: 2008-Jan
A discussion paper examined whether a government-led population strategy was desirable, and outlined what could practically be done to respond to demographic change.
Source: Alasdair Murray, Does Britain Need a Population Policy?, CentreForum (020 7340 1160)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Jan