The 2021 Census reveal our society is ageing

Why does population ageing matter and what do the Census 2021 data tell us? This article was compiled in partnership with Age UK, the Centre for Ageing Better and the International Longevity Centre UK.

The population of England and Wales has continued to age, with Census 2021 results confirming there are more people than ever before in older age groups.

The average (median) age in England and Wales rose from 39 years in 2011 to 40 years in 2021, reflecting the changing age structure of the population.

This article goes beyond the numbers to provide expert views on issues related to ageing and explain why census data are particularly useful. What do we know about the lives of older people and the challenges they face? How do the data help to plan for an older population? And, what do older people themselves think about ageing and how we could all age better?