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Older People Topic Data

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The population of Dorset, mirroring that of the UK, is aging. It is happening more rapidly in Dorset due to our larger older population and declining birth rate. The median age in Dorset is 51.6, up by 4 years since 2011, compared to a median age of just 40.6 for England and Wales, up by one year in the last 10 years.1

Typically Older People refers to those who are no longer of working age, so traditionally 65+. However with increased life expectancy an increasing number of people find themselves either having to work, or wanting to work beyond what was traditionally retirement age.

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Population

  • The population of those aged between 65 and 79 has grown by 22.3% between 2013 and 2023 and is projected to grow a further 13.8% to 2033. Those aged 80+ have grown by 19.8% between 2013 and 2023 and are projected to grow a further 41.8% to 20332.
  • Nationwide migration of older people is driven by movement out of urban areas to rural and coastal areas. Net migration figures in Dorset are highest for the 60-64 year old age group3.
  • The Old Age Dependency Ratio (OADR) is the number of people over 65 years old for every 1,000 people aged between 16 and 64 years old. In England and Wales there are 297 older people per 1,000 working age population, in Dorset this figure is 5371.
  • Nationally 54% of the total growth in the number of households over the next ten years (2023-2033) will be where the main householder is over 75 years of age. In Dorset, this figure is 87%.
  • The population of those aged 75 and over living in care homes or nursing homes is projected to grow by 28% in Dorset, slightly above the average for England of 26%4.
10 Year Population Projection
10 Year Population Projection

Life Expectancy

  • Life expectancy over the last few decades has been steadily increasing nationally but has stabilised and slowed in recent years. At the age of 65 a woman in Dorset would expect to live for a further 22.5 years while a man 20 years.5
  • As well as living longer people are also living healthier lives. Dorset has above average healthy life expectancy; at age 65 females in Dorset can expect to live a further 12.1 years in good/fairly good health, males 11.4 years. Compared to 11.3 and 10.5 respectively for England.6
  • The life expectancy gap between Dorset’s most and least deprived areas is 6.3 years for males and 5.3 years for females.7
  • With no official retirement age and the state pension age rising, 65 as the start of older age could be becoming out of date8.
  • Over 12,000 people aged 65 and over are economically active and in employment in Dorset9. That’s nearly 11% of this age group and reflects the fact that people are retiring later.
  • 7% of those who are economically active (employed or unemployed) in Dorset are aged 65 or over, compared to 4% for England and Wales9.
  • According to Census 2021 32% of the 35,500 unpaid carers were aged 65 and over compared to 23% for England and Wales. As the population ages there will be increased need for informal care but also a need for older people to stay in the workforce longer.
Life expectancy
Life expectancy

Living well10

  • Some areas of Dorset experience higher levels of Living Environment deprivation. Older people and disabled people are more likely to need adaptations to enable them to live independently. Higher numbers of Listed properties and Conservation Areas can restrict the feasibility of needed changes.
  • Dorset’s older people account for almost one third of its population. Levels of internal net migration are highest in older age groups, particularly those aged 55 to 69 years old, while levels of net out migration are particularly high for 18 to 29 year olds. This means there will be fewer people to work in the economy and care for our ageing population.
  • Given the ageing population and higher levels of disability and health problems amongst older people, there is likely to be an increased requirement for specialist housing options: 20% of all housing will need to be specialist accommodation for older people; there is already a projected shortfall of 2,800 specialist bedspaces by 2038.

Headline Figures

31,949

Population of 80+ year olds in 20211

30%

Aged 65+ in Dorset1

19%

Aged 65+ in England & Wales1

2.2% pa

Growth in those aged 65+ over next decade

81 years

Life expectancy for males

85 years

Life expectancy for females

Headline Figures

31,949

Population of 80+ year olds in 20211

30%

Aged 65+ in Dorset1

19%

Aged 65+ in England & Wales1

2.2% pa

Growth in those aged 65+ over next decade

81 years

Life expectancy for males

85 years

Life expectancy for females

Sources

  • 1 2021 Mid-year estimates, Office for National Statistics
  • 2 2020-based trend population projections, DC
  • 3 2021 MYE Internal Migraion Estimates, ONS
  • 4 2018 based Household Projections, ONS
  • 5 Life expectancy at 65 (3 year range, 2018-2020), ONS/Public Health
  • 6 Healthy Life Expectancy (2018-20), ONS/Public Health
  • 7 Office for Health Improvement and Disparity (202), Public Health England
  • 8 Living Longer Bulletins, ONS
  • 9 Census 2021
  • 10 Dorset and BCP Local Housing Needs Assessment, 2021

34 Reports

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17 Related Datasets

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  • 2020 Mid-Year Estimates, Unitary Authority, Historical District and above

    Published: 27 July 2021

    Annual Mid-Year Estimates produced by the Office for National Statistics

    Downloads: 698

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  • 2019 Ward Level Population Estimates

    Published: 23 December 2020

    2019 Office for National Statistics Experimental Population Estimates for Dorset wards

    Downloads: 1355

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  • 2019 LSOA Level Mid-Year Estimates

    Published: 08 December 2020

    2019 Population estimates for Lower Super Output Area Geographies in Dorset

    Downloads: 1114

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  • Internal Migration for Mid-Years 2002-2019

    Published: 08 December 2020

    Internal Migration by 5 year age group for Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council

    Downloads: 947

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  • Life Expectancy at birth and age 65, 2019

    Published: 07 December 2020

    Life expectancy at birth and age 65 by sex for Local Authority geography and above.

    Downloads: 748

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  • 2018 based Household Projections

    Published: 20 July 2020

    Office for National Statistics 2018 based Household Projections for Dorset

    Downloads: 1780

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  • 2018 based ONS Population Projections for Dorset

    Published: 07 July 2020

    2018 based Office for National Statistics Sub National Population Projections for current and former Dorset geographies in five year age groups.

    Downloads: 1376

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  • 2018 Parish Level Mid Year Population Estimates

    Published: 23 March 2020

    2018 best fit Output Area population to parish geography for all persons by five year age groups.

    Downloads: 1186

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019- National and Dorset Council Ranks

    Published: 03 January 2020

    The English Indices of Deprivation helps identify and prioritise areas to assist the government and other agencies both national and local in narrowing the gap between deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of the country.

    Downloads: 1898

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset East Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset East SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1533

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset West Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset West SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 2056

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Mid Dorset Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Mid Dorset SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1706

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - South East Dorset Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across South East Dorset SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 2130

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset North Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset North SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1814

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset South Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset South SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1397

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset Council Maps

    Published: 25 November 2019

    The combined map base pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation (IMD) map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture for Dorset. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1124

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  • POPPI: Projecting Older People Information

    Published: 28 July 2014

    A population based database providing information on older people (external website)

    Downloads: 6536

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