2011 Census – Characteristics of older people
This report brings together information from the different Census themes about people aged 65 and over.
Headlines
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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%
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92.5% of Surrey residents aged 65+ are of White British ethnicity
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80% of Surrey residents aged 65+ are Christian
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The day to day activities of 78% of over 85s in Surrey is limited by long term illness or disability
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14% of Surrey residents aged 65+ provide unpaid care to a relative or friend
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4.4% of Surrey residents aged 65+ live in a communal establishment.
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31% of those who live in households live alone
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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
Age band | 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
Area name | 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
Area name | 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
Age band - Age 65-69 | Males - 26,156 | Males - 48% | Females - 28,117 | Females - 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
Area name | 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
Area name | 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
Age band | % 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
Area name | 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
Area name | 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
Area name | 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
Age band | 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
Age band | Males - Living in a couple | Males - Not living in a couple | Females - Living in a couple | Females - 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
Household type | 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
Area name | 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
Employment type | Part time | Full time |
|---|---|---|
Employees | 61% | 40% |
Self employed | 57% | 43% |
All in employment | 59% | 41% |
Source: Office for National Statistics