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Britain’s ageing population
As the baby boom generation approach retirement, Britain's population is ageing.
Discover the changing nature of retirement; the importance of older people in the workforce; the increasing pressures on public services and how Britain is adapting to an ageing society.
ANGELA EAGLE MP Former minister for Pensions and the Ageing society
GEORGE MAGNUS Author and Senior Economic Adviser at UBS Investment Bank
SAMIRA AHMED Channel 4 newsreader and correspondent
- TALKS
- FOCUS
- 60 SECONDS
- INTERVIEWS
- NEWS
Introduction by Samira Ahmed
Samira Ahmed, Channel 4 News Presenter and Correspondent, outlines the issues we face with an ageing society.
watch video »George Magnus
George Magnus discusses the challenges that we face in an ageing society
watch video »Angela Eagle MP
Angela Eagle MP, Minister of State for Pensions and the Ageing Society, discusses the challenges and opportunities that an ageing society presents Britain.
watch video »Panel discussion
Angela Eagle MP and George Magnus discuss the issues of ageing populations. Chaired by Samira Ahmed
watch video »
Britain’s ageing population
Read an introduction to the challenges and benefits of Britain's ageing population.
Meet the panel
Read the biographies of the panel for 'Britain's population timebomb' event in June…
Councils ‘will struggle with ageing population’
- Source: BBC News
18th February 2010
Councils will struggle to cope with the financial challenge posed by England's ageing population, a watchdog says.
UK economy ‘must adapt to needs of ageing population’
- Source: The Daily Telegraph
3rd February 2010
Britain must radically shift the way it thinks about what its ageing population contributes to the economy if it is to avoid future fiscal crises, a prominent economist has warned. George Magnus, senior economic adviser to UBS, said that businesses would have a major part to play in the shift as traditional sources of growth – including the housing market – shrink, and an ageing population puts a strain on the public finances.
Our ageing population
- Source: The Guardian
2nd February 2010
Future historians will record two great social trends in the last half of the 20th century: the dramatic decline in fertility, and the transformation of the role of women in society. Clearly they are linked, but which came first?
Rise in older people living in villages predicted
- Source: BBC News
1st February 2010
A quarter of people living in England's countryside will be over 65 by 2020, a campaign group has said.The National Housing Federation said figures estimate a 40% rise in older residents over the next 10 years.
Migration v ageing population - a tricky trade-off
- Source: BBC News
19th November 2009
Too many or not enough? Population projections are useless for telling us what will happen, but by showing what might, they reveal a tricky trade-off
Care for elderly a priority say Prime Minister
- Source: BBC News
17th November 2009
Improving the care available for the elderly will be Labour's domestic policy "priority" should it win the next election, Gordon Brown has said.
Ageing Britain: number of 85-year-olds will more than double
- Source: The Daily Telegraph
22nd October 2009
Official population projections show the number of people aged 85 will rise from 1.3 million last year to 3.3 million by 2033. The Office for National Statistics figures also show that that on current trends, there will be soon be fewer than three people of working age to each pensioner.
UK population ‘to rise to 71.6m’
- Source: BBC News
21st October 2009
The population of the UK will rise from 61m to 71.6m by 2033 if current trends in growth continue, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said.
Just over two-thirds of the increase is likely to be related directly or indirectly to migration to the UK.
Aging population heralds rise of the ‘supercentenarian’
- Source: The Daily Telegraph
1st October 2009
The number of “supercentenarians” – people aged over 110 – will soar in coming years, according to official forecasts.
Maps chart UK’s ageing population
- Source: BBC News
1st October 2009
UK retirement age challenge fails
- Source: BBC News
27th September 2009
The High Court has upheld the law that allows UK employers to force workers to retire at the age of 65. In the UK, a worker can see their employment end at the age of 65 without any redundancy payment - even if they do not want to retire. However the judge in the case said there was a compelling case for the compulsory retirement age to rise.
Retirement age judgement expected
- Source: BBC News
25th September 2009
A judgement on whether it is legal for UK employers to force workers to retire at the age of 65 is expected later. In the UK, a worker can see their employment end at the age of 65 without any redundancy payment - even if they do not want to retire.
Fears of increasingly ageing UK population fall as birthrate rises
- Source: The Times
12th August 2009
Fears that we are heading towards a predominantly elderly population that will be unable to support itself may have been overstated, as a new study shows that in the most advanced countries birthrates begin to rise again.
The best of all possible worlds?
- Source: The Economist
6th August 2009
It was once a rule of demography that people have fewer children as their countries get richer. That rule no longer holds true
How will long-term care be funded?
- Source: BBC News
29th July 2009
The issue of funding of social care for the elderly is firmly back on the agenda. The government's Green Paper, published earlier this month, discusses the creation of a new social care system in England.
Wealthy elderly turn backs on seaside havens
- Source: The Guardian
29th July 2009
According to an analysis of demographic data, many of today's wealthier pensioners are turning their backs on traditional retirement destinations with a "grey influx" into upmarket towns and cities in some of the UK's most sought-after inland locations - such as in the Cotswolds, and parts of Hampshire and Kent.
Pensioners will outnumber the under-fives in ten years Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/
- Source: The Daily Mail
21st July 2009
Pensioners will outnumber the under fives for the first time within a decade, experts believe.
Improvements in healthcare, diet and lifestyle across the world have fuelled an unprecedented growth in the number of those aged 65 and older.
Social care green paper: reaction in quotes
- Source: The Guardian
15th July 2009
The government has set out its blueprint for reforming care for older and disabled people. Key figures in the social care sector give their response
‘Care insurance’ planned for old
- Source: BBC News
14th July 2009
Older people in England could be asked to take out insurance to pay for long-term care in their old age.
At present, there are four people earning for each one who is retired, but in 40 years that ratio will fall to just two to one.
National care service to help ageing population
- Source: The Guardian
14th July 2009
Ambitious proposals to set up a national care service, on an equal footing with the National Health Service and dedicated to providing care for our ageing population, will be unveiled in the government's green paper on care and support later today.
End of retirement age signal
- Source: BBC News
13th July 2009
The government has brought forward by a year a review of the default retirement age of 65.
New government strategy to support ageing population
- Source: Directgov
13th July 2009
The government has launched a new strategy to support an ageing UK population. Important measures of the new strategy include providing support to people to plan earlier for their longer lives and making sure that services are suitable when the time comes to use them.
Baby bust nations will face hard times as populations age
- Source: Scotland on Sunday
12th July 2009
Population growth is beneficial for any economy, but for investors it is better if the median age of that population is low, ie a young economy.
Dream Teams
- Source: The Guardian
8th July 2009
Who will care for older people in the future ... experienced council-employed staff or poorly-paid migrants in cash-starved independent homes? Anna Bawden investigates
The end of retirement
- Source: The Economist
30th June 2009
Demography means virtually all of us will have to work longer. That need not be a bad thing
US pensioners mentally ‘10 years younger’ than those in England
- Source: The Daily Telegraph
25th June 2009
Researchers found that Americans had better memories, were quicker witted and were generally smarter than their English counterparts. And the older the pensioner, the greater the difference, claimed researchers.
More will need to work beyond 65 as Wales’ population ages, suggests expert
- Source: Wales Online
23rd June 2009
Wales has to wake up to the challenge of an ageing workforce with more than 40% of the population likely to be aged 50 and over by 2031.
Japan embraces shotgun weddings
- Source: The Daily Telegraph
23rd June 2009
The stigma attached to walking down the aisle even very late into a pregnancy is evaporating in Japan, with dekichatta-kon weddings accounting for almost one third of the total. The country is struggling with a rapidly ageing population and a declining birth rate that means that the average Japanese woman will only give birth to 1.25 children in her lifetime, well below the 2.1 required to keep the population level stable.
Inheritance levy planned for long-term care of the elderly
- Source: The Observer
14th June 2009
People in England and Wales could pay a one-off "inheritance levy" of up to £12,000 in return for free long-term care in their old age, under controversial government plans being drawn up to cope with the growing demands of an ageing population.
Baby-boom workers become pension aristocrats
- Source: The Guardian
4th June 2009
Workers over 50 in white collar, management roles have the most valuable pensions, paying two-thirds of their final salary
Half of UK ‘have no pension pot’
- Source: BBC News
26th May 2009
Half of UK adults aged between 20 and 60 are not putting aside any funds into a pension, a survey commissioned by the BBC suggests.
Majority are resigned to working longer after pension collapse
- Source: The Daily Mail
26th May 2009
The majority of Britons accept they will be forced to work beyond 65 after watching the value of pensions collapse. Six in ten said they realised they would have to stay in jobs longer to save up more money, a poll shows.
George Magnus: Britain is growing old and we’re not ready
- Source: The Times
26th May 2009
Baby-boomers pose an economic threat, George Magnus says. Will the Government take heed?
Which countries have most elderly people?
- Source: The Economist
26th May 2009
With fertility rates declining in many rich countries, the number of elderly people as a share of those of working age is projected to rise sharply over the next 40 years, according to the European Commission.
Opinions shift towards longer working hours
- Source: Financial Times
25th May 2009
A majority of Britons now favour longer working lives if it means a more generous pension in retirement, a significant shift of opinion in the few years since the subject was raised by the Pensions Commission report in 2005
The Briton’s who can’t afford to become old
- Source: The Observer
24th May 2009
The UK population is getting older and faces deep financial, emotional and health issues - a generation face working into their seventies - or living out their old age in penury.
Birth rate highest since 1973
- Source: The Guardian
21st May 2009
Seventh consecutive annual rise for England and Wales sees birth rate increase to 1.95 children per woman
Birth rate highest since 1973
- Source: The Guardian
21st May 2009
Seventh consecutive annual rise for England and Wales sees birth rate increase to 1.95 children per woman
It’s better to keep older people in work
- Source: The Times
20th May 2009
Forcing people to retire is at odds with a positive vision for our ageing society
Retirement gap years: mum’s gone to India
- Source: The Times
19th May 2009
The “grey gap year” market is booming. Some 200,000 Britons of retirement age embark on long-haul trips every year, spending an average £5,000 per trip.
Europe looks towards robots to care for its elderly
- Source: Wired
21st April 2009
By 2050, Europe is expected to have more than 80 million people over the age of 65. Many will be able to live active, independent lives, but some will need more help, and with birth-rates dropping some countries are looking at the options for robotic care.
The end of final-salary pensions?
- Source: BBC News
16th April 2009
2009 will see a number of large organisations making a fundamental change to their company pensions - cancelling final salary schemes for existing members.
Japan’s silver surfers and shoppers
- Source: The Independent
16th April 2009
The oldest population on the planet has a whole district designed just for them – the Tokyo suburb of Sugamo.
Top 10 places for retirement
- Source: The Daily Telegraph
16th April 2009
With fun and fitness on the agenda, baby boomers are retiring to towns that have it all.
Quality of life ‘getting worse for older people’
- Source: The Guardian
7th April 2009
Effects of age discrimination, poverty and neglect worse than in previous years, says charity report
London’s £10 billion pensions time-bomb
- Source: Evening Standard
24th March 2009
A pension funding shortfall of £10billion threatens local government services in London, the Evening Standard reveals today.
Baby boom Britain won’t retire quietly
- Source: The Guardian
8th March 2009
For the first time ever, the number of Britons over 65 exceeds those under 16. As the country grows older, the demand is growing for people to be able to work beyond pensionable age. And with advanced years comes growing political power - so the debate about retirement age is set to intensify
British compulsory retirement age can stay at 65, says European court
- Source: The Guardian
6th March 2009
British businesses can continue to force employees to retire at age 65 without breaking EU rules, the European court of justice ruled today.
EU judges back UK retirement age
- Source: BBC News
5th March 2009
The UK's compulsory retirement age of 65 is not in breach of EU legislation, according to a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
Britain becomes a nation of pensioners
- Source: The Independent
10th December 2008
For the first time, Britain's over-65s outnumber all the children under 16
Britain’s ageing population ‘as big a threat as climate change’
- Source: The Daily Telegraph
28th May 2008
Britain's ageing population poses as big a threat to the country as climate change, a Government minister has warned.
Fewer Britons in work due to ageing population and emigration rather than migrants, says report
- Source: The Guardian
9th January 2008
Demographic changes including an ageing population and rising emigration from Britain lie behind the fall in the number of UK-born people in work, rather than the arrival of new migrants, according to research published yesterday.
Facing up to the challenges of an ageing population
- Source: The Guardian
17th September 2006
The insurance industry has it all to play for as baby boomers change their investment portfolio in readiness for retirement
Ageing’s silver lining
- Source: Straits Times
Singapore's location in Asia, the world's fastest-ageing region, places it in a prime spot to seize the economic and social opportunities that come with ageing