The information on this page was current at the time it was published. Regulations, trends, statistics, and other information are constantly changing. While we strive to update our Knowledge Base, we strongly suggest you use these pages as a general guide and be sure to verify any regulations, statistics, guidelines, or other information that are important to your efforts.

Brexit Update:
Since the UK officially left the European Union on January 31, 2020, the relationship between the two has evolved and continues to be shaped by the ongoing implementation of the withdrawal agreement.

Key Dates:

• January 31, 2020: UK officially left the EU and entered a transition period that ended on December 31, 2020.

• December 31, 2020: The transition period ended, and the UK fully exited the EU single market and customs union.

• January 1, 2021: The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement came into effect, outlining the post-Brexit relationship between the two entities.

• 2023/2024 Current: The UK and EU are still navigating the ongoing implementation and potential revisions of their post-Brexit relationship.

It's crucial for businesses operating in either the UK or the EU to stay informed about the latest developments and adjust their operations accordingly.

Demographics On Aging In The UK

Age structure in the UK

The UK’s median age (the number at which half the population is older and half is younger) is 40.1.the highest it’s ever been.The median age varies across UK countries, from 38 in Northern Ireland to 42.1 in Wales.There are over 12.7 million people aged 65 and over.

Age structure in the UK 

 0-14 years: 16.2% (male 5,525,000/female 5,152,000)

15-24 years: 11.7% (male 3,901,000/female 3,703,000)

25-54 years: 40.2% (male 13,008,000/female 12,458,000)

55-64 years: 12.2% (male 3,849,000/female 3,940,000)

65 years and over:  18.9% (male 5,340,000/female 6,599,000) 

Aging and gender in the UK

The population aged 65 and over continues to grow, reflecting longer lifespans and demographic shifts.The working-age population (25-54 years) remains the largest group, though its share is gradually decreasing.Life expectancy at birth in the UK in 2018 to 2020 was 79.0 years for males and 82.9 years for females. The number of people aged 75 and over has continued to grow for both genders. However, the pace of growth has slowed compared to the earlier period.Life expectancy at age 65 years was 18.5 years for males and 21.0 years for females; these estimates are very similar to those for 2015 to 2017.Detailed explanation of this theme is available in the Office for National Statistics' National Life Tables release from September 2021. 

Office for National Statistics

World Factbook - United Kingdom

For UK age distribution since 1984 and projected into 2044, scroll to the bottom of the linked page

National life tables – life expectancy in the UK: 2018 to 2020

UK Population estimates