The UK Longevity Report: Where Britain is Ageing Fastest and Living Longest

New research reveals that North Norfolk is the oldest region in the UK.

Almost one in five people in England is now aged 65 and over, but in some parts of the country, that figure is already closer to one in three.

The UK’s population is not just ageing, it’s doing so unevenly. While coastal and rural areas are already dominated by older residents, some of the country’s youngest communities are now ageing at the fastest rate.

By analysing Office for National Statistics data, this report reveals where Britain is living longest today, where ageing is accelerating most rapidly, and how the country’s longevity divide is set to widen in the years ahead.

Our research at a glance

• North Norfolk has the highest share of residents aged 65 and over, with 34.96% of the population in later life – almost double the national average of 19%.
  

• Coastal and rural areas dominate the rankings, with Rother (32.52%) and East Lindsey (31.50%) also seeing more than three in ten residents in later life.
  

• At the opposite end of the scale, Tower Hamlets has the youngest population profile, with just 5.89% of residents aged 65+, followed by Newham at 7.53%.
  

• Several local authorities are expected to see significant growth in their older populations by 2036, with ageing accelerating fastest in areas where the 65+ population is currently lower, including Wokingham, Harborough, and Uttlesford.
  

• The number of people aged 90 and over continues to rise across the UK, with certain areas emerging as ‘almost-centenarian’ hotspots where the oldest age groups are becoming more concentrated. This includes the New Forest, East Devon, and Rother.
  

• Centenarians remain rare but are increasing steadily, with women accounting for over 80% of those aged 100+.
  

• Across all age groups, the data suggests that longevity is becoming more geographically concentrated, with some areas ageing faster and living longer than others.

The UK's ageing hotspots revealed

Across the UK, almost one in five (19%) people are aged 65 and over. However, in the highest-ranking areas, this figure rises well above 30%, showing how strongly later-life populations are concentrated in certain parts of the country.

These higher concentrations are not evenly spread. The UK’s oldest populations are overwhelmingly found in coastal and rural districts, where older residents make up a significantly larger share of the local population than the national average.

 

Rank	Name	Total population	Population aged 65+	Percentage of population aged 65+
1	North Norfolk	103,217	36,080	34.96%
2	Rother	96,133	31,266	32.52%
3	East Lindsey	145,183	45,736	31.50%
4	New Forest	176,116	54,026	30.68%
5	Dorset	389,947	119,046	30.53%
6	East Devon	158,239	47,753	30.18%
7	Isle of Wight	141,660	42,743	30.17%
8	West Devon	58,923	17,487	29.68%
9	Torridge	69,841	20,690	29.62%
10	Tendring	156,759	46,180	29.46%

 

Across the UK, older populations are more heavily concentrated in rural and coastal areas. According to ONS data, this is often driven by internal migration, with many people choosing to move away from larger towns and cities later in life.

1. North Norfolk ranks first, with 34.96% of residents aged 65+ 

More than one in three residents in North Norfolk are aged 65 or over (34.5%), making it the oldest population in the UK and far above the national average of 19%.

The area also reflects a wider demographic pattern seen across later life, with women accounting for a larger share of older residents. In North Norfolk, women make up over 53% of the 65+ population, equivalent to around 113 women for every 100 men.

2. Rother ranks second, with 35.52% of residents aged 65+ 

Nearly one in three residents in Rother are aged 65 or over (32.52%), placing it well above the national average and reinforcing its position as one of the UK’s oldest population centres.

As in North Norfolk, the area reflects a broader demographic pattern in which older populations are more heavily represented in certain parts of the country.

Rother’s ranking aligns with findings that older adults are more likely to live in rural and coastal areas.

3. East Lindsey ranks third, with 31.50% of residents aged 65+ 

In East Lindsey, 31.50% of residents are aged 65 and over, meaning almost one in three people are in later life.

This places the district significantly above the UK average and highlights the strong concentration of older populations in specific coastal and rural areas.

London is the youngest region of the UK, with Tower Hamlets taking the top spot overall 

 

Rank	Name	Total population	Population aged 65+	Percentage of population aged 65+
1	Tower Hamlets	331,886	19,559	5.89%
2	Newham	374,523	28,208	7.53%
3	Hackney	266,758	22,600	8.47%
4	Barking and Dagenham	232,747	20,012	8.60%
5	Southwark	314,786	28,682	9.11%

 

Unsurprisingly, all of the UK’s youngest areas are concentrated in London, with Tower Hamlets ranking first overall. Just 5.89% of its population is aged 65 or over, followed by Newham (7.53%) and Hackney (8.47%).

Barking and Dagenham and Southwark complete the top five, with fewer than one in ten residents in later life across each borough.

This reflects a clear and consistent pattern. London’s population is significantly younger than the rest of the UK, driven by higher employment opportunities, greater population turnover, and an influx of younger residents into the capital.

Research from Trust for London shows that inner London boroughs tend to have some of the lowest median ages in the country, with large working-age populations and fewer residents reaching later life compared with coastal and rural areas.

As a result, while some parts of the UK are ageing rapidly, London remains distinct, with a much younger population profile that contrasts sharply with the country’s longevity hotspots.

The UK's oldest areas are set to get even older by 2036 

Across the UK, the number of people aged 65 and over is expected to continue rising over the next decade. However, this growth is not evenly spread.

In many of the areas already identified as longevity hotspots, older populations are projected to become even more concentrated. In others, the pace of change is beginning to accelerate, suggesting that ageing is becoming a more widespread national trend.

The areas projected to have the most over-65s by 2036

 

Rank	Name	Estimated Total Population 2036	Population Aged 65+ 2036	Percentage of Population Aged 65+ 2036
1	North Norfolk	111,779	44,614	39.91%
2	Rother	102,588	38,788	37.81%
3	East Lindsey	155,781	57,978	37.22%
4	Dorset	412,226	152,195	36.92%
5	New Forest	180,577	66,574	36.87%
6	Isle of Wight	146,454	53,538	36.56%
7	West Devon	64,259	23,317	36.29%
8	Torridge	74,394	26,586	35.74%
9	Fylde	94,310	33,372	35.39%
10	Hambleton	100,554	35,140	34.95%

 

North Norfolk is expected to remain the UK’s oldest area by 2036, with 39.91% of its population projected to be aged 65 and over – meaning nearly two in five residents will be in later life.

Rother and East Lindsey follow, with 37.81% and 37.22% respectively, continuing the pattern of already ageing areas becoming even more concentrated over time.

Dorset, the New Forest, and the Isle of Wight also rank among the highest, each projected to have more than 36% of residents aged 65+. In these areas, later life is set to make up a defining share of the local population.

Ageing is becoming more concentrated, not more evenly spread

The projections show that ageing is not dispersing across the UK, but is largely intensifying in the same areas where it is already most established.

Places with older populations today are also those expected to age the most over time, suggesting that longevity is becoming more geographically concentrated rather than more evenly distributed.

This means that while the UK as a whole is getting older, the impact is likely to be felt most strongly in specific parts of the country, where later-life populations already form a significant share of the community.

The UK's 'almost-centenarian' hotspots 

While the 65+ population provides a broad picture of ageing, the over-90 population offers a clearer view of where people are living into very old age.

Rank	Name	Total population	Population aged 90+	Percentage of population aged 90+
1	New Forest	176,116	3,357	1.91%
2	Isles of Scilly	2,366	44	1.86%
3	Rother	96,133	1,726	1.80%
4	North Norfolk	103,217	1,843	1.79%
5	East Devon	158,239	2,807	1.77%
6	Arun	170,064	2,870	1.69%
7	Dorset	389,947	6,532	1.68%
8	Lewes	102,363	1,672	1.63%
9	Eastbourne	104,259	1,672	1.60%
10	East Suffolk	249,664	3,935	1.58%

 

New Forest ranks first for people aged 90 and over, with 3,357 people in this age group, representing 1.91% of the local population. The Isles of Scilly follows closely behind at 1.86%, despite its much smaller population, while Rother, North Norfolk, and East Devon also feature among the highest-ranking areas.

What stands out is how this list both overlaps with and expands beyond the UK’s wider ageing hotspots. While areas like Rother and North Norfolk appear in both rankings, several locations are new entries at this stage of later life, including New Forest, Isles of Scilly, Arun, Dorset, Lewes, Eastbourne, and East Suffolk.

This reflects a longer-term shift in life expectancy. Across the UK, people are living longer than in previous decades, with improvements in healthcare, living standards, and disease prevention all contributing to a gradual rise in the oldest age groups. (ONS)

The over-90 population has grown by more than 50% in two decades

The number of people aged 90 and over in the UK has grown sharply over the past two decades, rising by more than 50% from around 407,000 in 2004 to over 625,000 in 2024.

This makes it one of the fastest-growing age groups in the country, reflecting long-term improvements in life expectancy, healthcare, and living standards.

What’s changing is not just how many people reach their 90s, but how far into old age they live. The proportion of people aged 90+ who reach 100 has increased over time, suggesting that extreme longevity is becoming more common rather than exceptional.

At the same time, the profile of this age group is beginning to shift. While women still make up the majority of those aged 90 and over, the number of men reaching very old age has more than doubled in the past 20 years, meaning the gender gap is gradually narrowing.

Where are people most likely to reach 100? 

At the most extreme end of the age spectrum, centenarian populations remain small but continue to grow.

Tier	Name	Total population	Population aged 100+	Percentage of population aged 100+
Highest concentration	East Devon	158,239	97	0.06%
	New Forest	176,116	101	0.06%
	Arun	170,064	97	0.06%
Emerging hotspots	Waverley	134,284	68	0.05%
	Rother	96,133	48	0.05%
	North Norfolk	103,217	48	0.05%
	Dorset	389,947	176	0.05%

 

East Devon, New Forest, and Arun sit at the top, each with 0.06% of residents aged 100 and over. While the differences between them are minimal, these areas stand out for having the highest concentration of centenarians in the UK.

A second group, including Waverley, Rother, North Norfolk, and Dorset, follows closely behind at 0.05%, reinforcing a consistent pattern across the data.

Several of these locations, such as Waverley, also appear more prominently at this stage than in earlier rankings, suggesting that some areas may be particularly associated with longevity rather than simply larger older populations overall.

Women are far more likely to reach 100 than men 

Across the UK, women make up more than 80% of those aged 100 and over – equivalent to around 427 women for every 100 men.

In some areas, this gap is even more pronounced. For example, in Rother and North Norfolk, there are around 7 women aged 100+ for every 1 man.

Even in East Devon, which has one of the more balanced splits, women still account for over 72% of centenarians.

This reflects long-term differences in life expectancy, with women consistently more likely to reach extreme old age.

The number of centenarians continues to rise

The number of people aged 100 and over has increased steadily over the past decade (a 21.67% increase from 2014 to 2024), reflecting continued improvements in life expectancy.

While centenarians still represent a small share of the population, their numbers are expected to grow as larger age groups move into later life.

As this happens, the gender imbalance seen at older ages is likely to become even more pronounced, particularly in areas where older populations are already well established.

The UK's fastest ageing areas are some of its current youngest 

 

Rank	Area	Population aged 65+ 2022	Estimated population aged 65+ 2036	Percentage change
1	Tower Hamlets	18,398	28,883	56.99%
2	Southwark	26,854	41,938	56.17%
3	Lambeth	28,341	42,961	51.59%
4	Hackney	21,266	31,932	50.16%
5	South Derbyshire	20,669	30,906	49.53%
6	Newham	26,259	38,805	47.78%
7	Lewisham	29,596	42,664	44.15%
8	Uttlesford	19,209	27,480	43.06%
9	Cherwell	28,897	41,182	42.51%
10	Stratford-on-Avon	35,176	50,129	42.51%

 

The fastest ageing areas in the UK are not the oldest – they’re some of the youngest.

Tower Hamlets ranks first, with its 65+ population projected to grow by 56.99% by 2036, followed by Southwark (56.17%) and Lambeth (51.59%). Hackney and Newham also feature among the fastest-growing areas.

These locations currently have some of the lowest proportions of older residents in the UK. However, their populations have grown rapidly in recent decades, meaning large numbers of people are now reaching later life at the same time.

This creates a clear contrast between where ageing is most established and where it is accelerating fastest.

The trend reflects a cohort effect identified in ONS data, in which areas with younger populations age more quickly as their residents move through the life course.

What longer lives mean for living independently at home

As more people live into their 80s, 90s, and beyond, the challenge isn’t simply age itself, but how changing mobility and comfort needs begin to affect everyday life.

Tasks such as getting in and out of bed, standing from a seated position, or moving safely around the home can become more difficult over time, particularly as strength, balance and flexibility change with age.

This is why longer life expectancy is increasingly shaping the kinds of support people need at home. For many households, small adaptations can make a meaningful difference, helping people remain comfortable, confident, and independent for longer.

Electric adjustable beds and riser recliner chairs are designed to make everyday movement easier, helping to reduce physical strain and support comfort throughout the day and night. Features such as adjustable positioning and assisted standing can make it easier to get in and out of bed or a chair, supporting safer, more manageable daily routines as needs change over time.

Barbara Franks, Occupational Therapist at Opera Beds, said:

“As more people live longer, we’re seeing a growing need for support that helps people stay independent at home for as long as possible. It’s often not one major change that makes the difference, but a series of smaller, practical adjustments that support day-to-day comfort and mobility.

“Products like electric adjustable beds and riser recliner chairs are designed to work with the body, helping to reduce strain, improve posture, and make everyday movements — such as getting in and out of bed or standing from a seated position — much easier. This can be especially important as strength, balance, and flexibility change over time.

“From an occupational therapy perspective, maintaining independence is closely linked to both physical wellbeing and quality of life. When people can move safely and comfortably around their home, it can help them stay confident, reduce the risk of falls, and continue their usual routines for longer.

“In many cases, these kinds of supportive solutions can delay or even prevent the need for more intensive care, allowing people to remain in familiar surroundings with greater dignity and control over their daily lives.”

Methodology

Opera Beds has designed and supplied home hospital beds and seating solutions for over 20 years, combining clinical functionality with a homely feel. Our aim is to support comfort, mobility, and independence for people across the UK.

To understand where longevity is most established, and where it is changing fastest, we analysed data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Population Aged 65+

We used ONS figures on the 65+ population to show the following, both nationally and by local authority:

• Total number and % of people aged 65+

• Gender breakdown

• 10-year historic change (total and by gender)

We then used ONS population projections to show the following by local authority:

• Projected number of residents aged 65+ per 100,000 people in 2036

• Fastest-growing areas by % growth (2021-2036)

• Male vs female 65+ population ratio

Population Aged 90+

We used ONS figures on the 90+ population to show the following, both nationally and by local authority:

• Total number and % of people aged 90+

• Gender breakdown

• 10-year historic change (total and by gender)

Then, we used ONS population projections to show the following by local authority:

• Projected number of residents aged 90+ per 100,000 people in 2036

• Fastest-growing areas by % growth (2021-2036)

• Male vs female 90+ population ratio

Centenarians (100+)

We used ONS figures on the 100+ population to show the number and % of people aged 100+ in the UK, how this varies by gender, and how it has changed in the last 10 years.

Finally, we used Census estimates to show the number of centenarians per 100,000 people and the gender split by local authority.

All data was collected in March 2026 and is correct as of then.