London aging faster than any other UK city: study

Anadolu, Philippine News Agency

The findings contrast sharply with trends in other large UK cities, where the average age has dropped slightly by half a year to 34.5 between 2001 and 2023. (Pexels Photo)

LONDON– London is aging at a faster rate than any other major city in the United Kingdom, as an increasing number of residents choose to opt out of having children, according to research by the Resolution Foundation.

The median age in the capital has risen by two years, reaching 35.8 in just over a decade — a rate of change more commonly associated with rural villages.

The findings contrast sharply with trends in other large UK cities, where the average age has dropped slightly by half a year to 34.5 between 2001 and 2023.

The research, based on analysis of official data, highlights a growing age divide across the country, with the median age varying significantly between urban and rural areas.

The starkest example of the divide can be seen in North Norfolk, the oldest local authority in Britain, where the average age is 55.3 years.

It is 25 years older than the youngest area, London’s Tower Hamlets, which has a median age of 30.6 years.

While London’s median age has risen moderately, rural villages have seen much steeper increases, with the typical age climbing nearly six years, from 41.6 years in 2001 to 47.4 years in 2023.

The trend is mirrored in coastal regions, which are disproportionately contributing to the UK’s overall aging population.

The Resolution Foundation warned that the vast differences will pose major challenges, particularly for coastal and rural areas where aging populations are putting increasing pressure on public services.

The think tank underscored the need for targeted policies to address the growing age divide and its implications for regional economies, health care and social infrastructure. (Anadolu)