London Stands Out as the Only Major UK City Aging, New Research Reveals
Research shows London is aging while other UK cities are getting younger
London, UK, Aging Population, Brexit, Migration, Birth Rates
London: A new study has found that London is the only major city in the UK that’s getting older. This is quite a shift, especially since other big cities are actually getting younger.
The research points to post-Brexit migration and declining birth rates as key reasons for this trend. While cities like Bristol and Glasgow are seeing their average ages drop, London’s average age has crept up over the last decade.
Interestingly, the average age in London rose from 33.8 in 2011 to 35.8 in 2023. This change is partly due to an increase in the population aged 50 to 64 and a decrease in young kids under five.
After Brexit, younger migrants who used to flock to London have started settling in other cities, which has evened things out a bit. The report highlights that this shift in migration patterns is reshaping the age demographics across the UK.
Falling birth rates are also a big factor. In London, the birth rate has dropped from 16 per 1,000 people in the 2000s to 14 per 1,000 in the 2010s, which is a steeper decline than the national average.
The report warns that as the UK ages, there could be serious impacts on public services, especially schools and social care. With fewer kids being born, schools might face challenges adapting to these changes.
On the flip side, areas that are getting older will likely see a growing demand for adult social care services. Thankfully, there’s no sign that local authorities are cutting back on these services just yet.
Nye Cominetti from the Resolution Foundation summed it up well: while the UK is aging, it’s not happening evenly. Coastal and rural areas are aging the fastest, while many cities are getting younger. London is the odd one out, and these demographic shifts will have significant implications for public services in the future.
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