14/11/2013

Elderly Population Increasing

The number of older people in Northern Ireland is increasing, according to a report published by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM)

Between 2011 and 2012 the number of adults aged 65 and over increased by 2.6% to 272,800; the largest year-on-year increase since 1981.

Over the ten year period between 2002 and 2012 the population of this age group increased by 20.3%.

The number of adults aged 65 and over is projected to increase by 12.2%, from 272,800 to 306,000, between 2012 and 2017 and by 63.5% to 445,900 between 2012 and 2032.

The average age of the population is projected to increase over the same period, from 37.6 to 42.4.

The relative low income rate for pensioners in Northern Ireland stood at 25% in 2011/12, before housing costs

The was higher than children (22%), working age adults (20%) and the population as a whole (21%).

After housing costs were deducted, pensioners (15%) were considerably less likely than children (27%), working age adults (23%) and the population as a whole (23%) to be in relative low income in 2011/12.

Households headed by older people were much more likely to be living in fuel poverty than other households in 2011.

Almost two-thirds (66.3%) of households with person of 75 and over and over half (52.0%) of those with a person aged between 60 and 74 were in fuel poverty.

Older respondents were generally more likely than younger people to report that a fear of crime had a moderate or great impact on their quality of life in 2011/12.

(IT/CD)

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