2011 Census – Characteristics of older people

This report brings together information from the different Census themes about people aged 65 and over.

Headlines

  • The number of people aged 65+ in Surrey increased by 13% between 2001 and 2011 and the number of over 85s increased by 25.7%
  • 92.5% of Surrey residents aged 65+ are of White British ethnicity
  • 80% of Surrey residents aged 65+ are Christian
  • The day to day activities of 78% of over 85s in Surrey is limited by long term illness or disability
  • 14% of Surrey residents aged 65+ provide unpaid care to a relative or friend
  • 4.4% of Surrey residents aged 65+ live in a communal establishment.
  • 31% of those who live in households live alone
  • 13.6% of Surrey residents aged 65+ are in employment.

Number of older people by age group

The 2011 census recorded 172,165 people aged 65+ living in Surrey. This is an increase of 13% since 2001. 30,043 people were aged 85+, an increase of 25.7% since 2001. The borough with the biggest increase in older people is Surrey Heath where the number of people aged over 65 increased by 31.3% and the number of over 85s increased by 40.8%. The smallest increase in people aged 65+ was in Runnymede (7.1%) and the smallest increase in over 85s was in Epsom & Ewell (15.1%). The percentage increase in older people is higher in Surrey than England as a whole where the number of over 65s has increased by 10.9% and the number of over 85s by 23.7%.
Table 1: Population aged over 65 by age, 2001 and 2011: Surrey

2001 Census 2011 Census Change % change
Age 65-69 46,577 54,273 7,696 16.5%
Age 70-74 41,445 43,566 2,121 5.1%
Age 75-79 35,361 37,650 2,289 6.5%
Age 80-84 24,886 28,934 4,048 16.3%
Age 85-89 15,715 19,135 3,420 21.8%
Age 90+ 8,181 10,908 2,727 33.3%
All people aged 65+ 172,165 194,466 22,301 13.0%
All people aged 85+ 23,896 30,043 6,147 25.7%

Source: Office for National Statistics
Figure 1: Population aged over 65 by age, 2001 and 2011: Surrey

Source: Office for National Statistics
Table 2: Population aged over 65, 2001 and 2011

2001 Census 2011 Census Change % change
Surrey 172,165 194,466 22,301 13.0%
Elmbridge 19,963 21,518 1,555 7.8%
Epsom and Ewell 11,283 12,575 1,292 11.5%
Guildford 19,664 21,393 1,729 8.8%
Mole Valley 15,258 17,674 2,416 15.8%
Reigate and Banstead 20,592 22,733 2,141 10.4%
Runnymede 12,577 13,468 891 7.1%
Spelthorne 15,057 16,680 1,623 10.8%
Surrey Heath 10,968 14,405 3,437 31.3%
Tandridge 13,308 15,355 2,047 15.4%
Waverley 20,394 23,822 3,428 16.8%
Woking 13,101 14,843 1,742 13.3%
South East 1,308,622 1,482,020 173,398 13.3%
England 7,808,000 8,660,529 852,529 10.9%

Source: Office for National Statistics
Figure 2: % change in population aged over 65, 2001 to 2011

Source: Office for National Statistics
Table 3: Population aged over 85, 2001 and 2011

2001 Census 2011 Census Change % change
Surrey 23,896 30,043 6,147 25.7%
Elmbridge 2,977 3,662 685 23.0%
Epsom and Ewell 1,678 1,934 256 15.3%
Guildford 2,628 3,206 578 22.0%
Mole Valley 2,157 2,685 528 24.5%
Reigate and Banstead 2,985 3,851 866 29.0%
Runnymede 1,658 2,057 399 24.1%
Spelthorne 1,673 2,332 659 39.4%
Surrey Heath 1,298 1,828 530 40.8%
Tandridge 1,840 2,291 451 24.5%
Waverley 3,230 3,871 641 19.8%
Woking 1,772 2,326 554 31.3%
South East 175,790 217,207 41,417 23.6%
England 954,024 1,180,128 226,104 23.7%

Source: Office for National Statistics
Figure 3: % change in population aged over 85, 2001 to 2011

Source: Office for National Statistics

Gender

Overall 56% of people aged 65+ are female. The ratio of females to males increases with age, with 73% of the 90+ age group female.
Table 4: Gender split of population aged over 65 by age, 2011: Surrey

Males Females
Age 65-69 26,156 48% 28,117 52%
Age 70-74 20,559 47% 23,007 53%
Age 75-79 17,139 46% 20,511 54%
Age 80-84 12,214 42% 16,720 58%
Age 85-89 6,916 36% 12,219 64%
Age 90+ 2,990 27% 7,918 73%
All aged 65+ 85,974 44% 108,492 56%

Source: Office for National Statistics
Figure 4: Gender split of population aged over 65 by age, 2011: Surrey

Source: Office for National Statistics

Ethnicity

92.5% of Surrey residents aged 65+ are of White British ethnicity. Other white groups account for 4.8% with 2.7% from non white ethnic groups. The borough with the highest proportion of people from non white ethnic groups is Epsom & Ewell (5.8%, including 2.1% from Asian groups other than Indian or Pakistani). The borough with the lowest proportion of people from non white ethnic groups is Waverley (0.9%). The proportion of people from non white ethnic groups is lower in Surrey than England as a whole where 4.7% are from non white groups.
Table 5: Ethnicity profile of population aged 65+, 2011

White: British All other white groups Mixed/ multiple ethnic group Asian/ Asian British: Indian Asian/ Asian British: Pakistani All other asian groups Black/
African/ Caribbean/ Black British
Other ethnic group All non white
Surrey 92.5% 4.8% 0.3% 0.7% 0.3% 0.8% 0.2% 0.3% 2.7%
Elmbridge 89.7% 6.9% 0.4% 1.1% 0.1% 1.1% 0.2% 0.5% 3.4%
Epsom and Ewell 88.1% 6.1% 0.5% 1.7% 0.3% 2.1% 0.5% 0.7% 5.8%
Guildford 93.8% 4.4% 0.2% 0.5% 0.1% 0.6% 0.1% 0.3% 1.8%
Mole Valley 95.5% 3.2% 0.3% 0.3% 0.1% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% 1.4%
Reigate and Banstead 93.0% 4.2% 0.3% 0.7% 0.3% 0.9% 0.3% 0.2% 2.8%
Runnymede 91.5% 5.9% 0.5% 0.8% 0.1% 0.8% 0.2% 0.3% 2.7%
Spelthorne 91.5% 4.8% 0.5% 1.6% 0.3% 0.8% 0.3% 0.3% 3.8%
Surrey Heath 93.0% 4.4% 0.3% 0.8% 0.3% 0.8% 0.2% 0.2% 2.6%
Tandridge 94.9% 3.6% 0.2% 0.4% 0.0% 0.4% 0.2% 0.1% 1.5%
Waverley 95.3% 3.7% 0.2% 0.2% 0.0% 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% 0.9%
Woking 89.2% 6.3% 0.4% 0.5% 1.7% 1.1% 0.3% 0.5% 4.5%
South East 94.1% 3.4% 0.4% 0.7% 0.3% 0.6% 0.4% 0.2% 2.5%
England 91.6% 3.6% 0.4% 1.3% 0.6% 0.8% 1.3% 0.3% 4.7%

Source: Office for National Statistics
Figure 5: Ethnicity of population aged 65 who are not White British, 2011

Source: Office for National Statistics

Religion

80.3% of Surrey residents aged 65+ say they are Christian and 2.0% have other religions. 9.8% say they have no religion and the remaining 7.8% did not answer this voluntary question.

The borough with the highest proportion of Christians is Waverley (81.8%) and the lowest is Elmbridge (78.4%). The proportion of Christians in Surrey is slightly higher than England as a whole where 80.5% of people aged 65+ are Christian.

The borough with the highest proportion of over 65s with religions other than Christian is Epsom & Ewell (3.9%) and the lowest is Waverley (0.7%). The proportion of over 65s with religions other than Christian is lower in Surrey than England as a whole where 3.4% have other religions.

The boroughs with the highest proportion of over 65s with no religion are Elmbridge and Mole Valley (10.7%) and the lowest is Surrey Heath (8.7%). The proportion of Surrey residents aged 65+ with no religion is higher than in England as a whole where 8.4% have no religion.
Table 6: Religion of population aged 65+, 2011

Christian Other religions No religion Religion not stated
Surrey 80.3% 2.0% 9.8% 7.8%
Elmbridge 78.4% 3.0% 10.7% 7.9%
Epsom and Ewell 78.9% 3.9% 9.4% 7.7%
Guildford 80.4% 1.3% 10.6% 7.7%
Mole Valley 80.3% 1.2% 10.7% 7.8%
Reigate and Banstead 80.1% 1.9% 9.9% 8.0%
Runnymede 81.6% 1.9% 8.8% 7.7%
Spelthorne 80.3% 2.6% 9.0% 8.0%
Surrey Heath 81.2% 2.0% 8.7% 8.1%
Tandridge 81.1% 1.1% 9.9% 7.9%
Waverley 81.8% 0.7% 10.0% 7.5%
Woking 79.3% 3.4% 9.3% 8.1%
South East 80.5% 1.9% 9.7% 7.9%
England 80.5% 3.4% 8.4% 7.7%

Source: Office for National Statistics
Figure 6: Proportion of population aged over 65 who have a religion other than Christian, 2011


Source: Office for National Statistics

Health

The Census asked people if their day-to-day activities are limited because of a health problem or disability which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months, including problems related to old age.

Respondents could choose “limited a little” or “limited a lot”.

The proportion of older people who reported a health problem increases with age. 26.4% of people aged 65-74 reported such a problem, and of people aged over 85, 45.1% said their activities were limited a lot and a further 32.9% were limited a little.

Respondents were also asked for an assessment of their general health over the last year, choosing from Very Good, Good, Fair, Bad and Very Bad. The proportion of older people reporting bad or very bad health increased with age. 6.2% of people aged 65-74 reported bad or very bad health, rising to 18.3% of over 85s. The borough with the highest proportion of older people reporting bad or vey bad health is Spelthorne (8.3% of people aged 65-74 and 21.3% of people aged 85+) and the lowest are Mole Valley (5.0% of aged 65-74) and Waverley (15.5% of over 85s). The proportion is lower in Surrey than England as a whole where 11.2% of people aged 65-74 and 23.4% of people aged 85+ reported bad or very bad health.
Table 7: Population aged 65+ with long term heath problem or disability by age, 2011: Surrey

% whose day-to-day
activities are limited a lot
% whose day-to-day
activities are limited a little
All whose day to day
activities are limited
Age 65-74 8.9% 17.6% 26.4%
Age 75-84 20.4% 30.2% 50.6%
Age 85+ 45.1% 32.9% 78.0%

Source: Office for National Statistics
Figure 7: Proportion of population aged 65+ with long term health problem or disability by age, 2011: Surrey

Source: Office for National Statistics
Table 8: Population aged 65+ reporting bad or very bad health by age, 2011

Age 65-74 Age 75-84 Age 85+
Surrey 6.2% 11.0% 18.3%
Elmbridge 5.9% 10.4% 18.5%
Epsom and Ewell 5.9% 11.1% 20.2%
Guildford 6.1% 11.0% 18.0%
Mole Valley 5.0% 9.4% 16.7%
Reigate and Banstead 6.7% 11.7% 17.5%
Runnymede 7.4% 12.9% 20.1%
Spelthorne 8.3% 12.8% 21.3%
Surrey Heath 6.0% 11.1% 18.8%
Tandridge 6.0% 10.9% 18.5%
Waverley 5.3% 9.0% 15.5%
Woking 6.2% 12.0% 19.8%
South East 8.2% 12.9% 20.1%
England 11.2% 16.5% 23.4%

Source: Office for National Statistics
Figure 8: Proportion of population aged 65+ reporting bad or very bad health by age, 2011

Source: Office for National Statistics

Carers

The census asked people whether they give any help or support to family members, friends, neighbours or others because of long-term physical or mental ill-health or disability, or problems related to old age.

More than 25,700 of Surrey’s older residents (14% of the population aged 65+) were giving unpaid care, 7,356 of them for more than 50 hours per week.
Table 9: People aged 65+ providing unpaid care, 2011

All aged 65+
providing unpaid care
Providing 1 to 19 hours
unpaid care per week
Providing 20 to 49 hours
unpaid care per week
Providing 50 or more hours
unpaid care per week
Surrey 25,754 15,768 2,630 7,356
Elmbridge 2,802 1,742 271 789
Epsom and Ewell 1,698 1,024 186 488
Guildford 3,044 1,887 293 864
Mole Valley 2,332 1,482 215 635
Reigate and Banstead 2,853 1,722 317 814
Runnymede 1,694 972 183 539
Spelthorne 2,291 1,255 249 787
Surrey Heath 1,835 1,109 196 530
Tandridge 2,089 1,286 226 577
Waverley 3,153 2,055 305 793
Woking 1,963 1,234 189 540
South East 197,481 110,082 22,026 65,373
England 1,190,520 582,572 150,731 457,217

Source: Office for National Statistics
Figure 9: Proportion of people aged 65+ providing unpaid care, 2011

Source: Office for National Statistics

Living arrangements

This section brings together data from tables on resident type, household composition and living arrangements.

Overall, 4.4% of Surrey residents are living in a communal establishment, such as a residential care or nursing home. The borough with the highest proportion living in a communal establishment is Reigate & Banstead (6.8%) and the lowest are Epsom & Ewell and Spelthorne (2.7%). The proportion increases with age with 0.9% of people aged 65-69 living in communal establishments but 17.3% of over 85s do so. The proportion of over 85s living in communal establishments has fallen since 2001 when 19.5% did so.

Of Surrey residents aged 65+ living in households, 75% of males are living in a couple compared with 50% of females. The proportion decreases with age and of people aged 85+, 54% of males and 16% of females are living in a couple.

The census outputs on household compositions include 3 household types which are composed of people aged over 65 only. Of the 186,000 Surrey residents aged 65+ who live in households, 31% are living alone. A further 45% live in “one family” households where all residents are aged 65+. A small percentage (2%) live in other household types where all residents are aged 65+. The remaining 22% live in household types which include younger people and the census outputs do not provide any further breakdown.
Table 10: Population aged 65+ by resident type, 2011

Household
residents
Communal
establishment
residents
% living in
Communal
establishment
Surrey 185,937 8,529 4.4%
Elmbridge 20,602 916 4.3%
Epsom and Ewell 12,241 334 2.7%
Guildford 20,665 728 3.4%
Mole Valley 16,991 683 3.9%
Reigate and Banstead 21,194 1,539 6.8%
Runnymede 12,928 540 4.0%
Spelthorne 16,227 453 2.7%
Surrey Heath 13,782 623 4.3%
Tandridge 14,530 825 5.4%
Waverley 22,598 1,224 5.1%
Woking 14,179 664 4.5%

Source: Office for National Statistics
Figure 10: Proportion of population aged 65+ living in communal establishments, 2011

Source: Office for National Statistics
Table 11: Proportion of population aged 65+ living in communal establishments, by age, 2011 and 2001: Surrey

2001 2011
Age 65 to 69 0.8% 0.9%
Age 70 to 74 1.3% 1.1%
Age 75 to 79 2.7% 2.3%
Age 80 to 84 6.2% 5.2%
Age 85 and over 19.5% 17.3%

Source: Office for National Statistics
Figure 11: Proportion of population aged 65+ living in communal establishments, by age, 2011 and 2001: Surrey

Source: Office for National Statistics
Table 12: Living arrangements of people aged 65+ by age and gender, 2011: Surrey

Males Females
Living in
a couple
Not living
in a couple
Living in
a couple
Not living
in a couple
All aged 65+ 75% 25% 50% 50%
Age 65 to 69 81% 19% 69% 31%
Age 70 to 74 79% 21% 61% 39%
Age 75 to 79 77% 23% 49% 51%
Age 80 to 84 69% 31% 34% 66%
Age 85 and over 54% 46% 16% 84%

Source: Office for National Statistics
Figure 12: Proportion of people aged 65+ living in a couple by age and gender, 2011: Surrey


Source: Office for National Statistics

Table 13: Selected household composition where all residents are aged over 65, 2011: Surrey

All people aged 65+ living in households 185,937
People aged 65+ living in “One person household” 57,543 31%
People aged 65+ living in “One family only household: All aged 65 and over” 84,083 45%
People aged 65+ living in Other household types: All aged 65 and over 2,873 2%

Source: Office for National Statistics

Car availability

The census outputs include car availability for the household types which are composed of people aged over 65 only. Older people living alone are less likely to have access to a car than those living in other household types. Of the people aged 65+ who live alone 44% have no car or van. Of the “one family only– all aged 65+” household type, 8% have no cars or vans in available to the household and 43% have two or more.
Table 14: Cars available to households where all residents are aged 65+, 2011: Surrey

No cars or vans
in household
1 car or van
in household
2 or more cars or
vans in household
One person household: Aged 65 and over 44% 52% 4%
One family only: All aged 65 and over 8% 50% 43%
Other household types: All aged 65 and over 26% 47% 28%

Source: Office for National Statistics

Economic activity

Almost 27,000 (13.8%) Surrey residents aged over 65 are economically active. 8.6% are employees, 5.0% self employed and a small number are unemployed. The borough with the highest proportion of residents aged 65+ who are economically active is Waverley (15.0%) and the lowest is Spelthorne (12.4%). Surrey residents aged 65+ are more likely to be economically active than in England as a whole where 10.4% are economically active.

The majority of Surrey residents aged 65+ who are in employment are working part time (fewer than 30 hours per week). 61% of employees and 57% of the self employed work part time.
Table 15: People aged 65+ who are economically active by employment status, 2011

Number
economically active
% economically
active
% employees % self-employed % unemployed
Surrey 26,847 13.8% 8.6% 5.0% 0.3%
Elmbridge 3,142 14.6% 8.2% 6.2% 0.2%
Epsom and Ewell 1,611 12.8% 8.4% 4.2% 0.2%
Guildford 3,094 14.5% 9.2% 5.1% 0.2%
Mole Valley 2,431 13.8% 7.9% 5.6% 0.2%
Reigate and Banstead 2,985 13.1% 8.2% 4.7% 0.2%
Runnymede 1,777 13.2% 8.9% 4.1% 0.2%
Spelthorne 2,074 12.4% 8.6% 3.6% 0.3%
Surrey Heath 1,995 13.8% 9.1% 4.6% 0.2%
Tandridge 2,227 14.5% 8.7% 5.6% 0.2%
Waverley 3,568 15.0% 8.7% 6.0% 0.3%
Woking 1,943 13.1% 8.5% 4.3% 0.3%
South East 177,756 12.0% 7.7% 4.1% 0.2%
England 900,625 10.4% 6.7% 3.5% 0.2%

Source: Office for National Statistics
Figure 13: Proportion of people aged 65+ who are economically active by employment status, 2011


Source: Office for National Statistics
Table 16: Part time/full time status of people aged 65+ in employment

Part time Full time
Employees 61% 40%
Self employed 57% 43%
All in employment 59% 41%

Source: Office for National Statistics