Over-60s outnumber children in UK

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

In the latest sign of the UK's ageing population, the Office of National Statistics revealed 13,262,256 people were 60 or over in mid-2007.

That was up from 12,928,071 the previous year, while the number of under-18s fell from 13,119,654 to 13,111,023 over the same time period.

The disclosure came as it emerged that the population of the UK grew by nearly two million between 2001 and 2007.

The Office of National Statistics said the number of people in Britain reached 60,975,000 by the middle of last year, up 388,000 on mid-2006.

Mervyn Kohler, special adviser at Help the Aged, said the figures were "cause for celebration" and would have implications for policymakers as older people became increasingly more important.

"The key task for policy makers going forward is to ensure that older people can increasingly play an active role in our ageing society," he said. "The days of assuming older people are dependants must now come to an end."

Mr Kohler said there needed to be an improved housing supply for the aged, reform of social care and the removal of "arbitrary" ages for retirement.

"Changes to our population are inevitable over time," he added.

"An ageing society is a fact of life which should be welcomed and embraced, not treated with concern. These new figures should give everyone pause for thought about our future."