The population of England and Wales has gone up by 3.5million in 10 years ... and almost one in every five people is over 65.
Figures from the 2021 census show the population increased by 6.3% to 59.6 million in the last decade.
The number of over-65s has risen by more than 13% to just over 11 million.
In North Norfolk, more than a third of people are above the traditional retirement age. In all, there are 56 areas where over-65s make up at least 25% of the population, up from just seven in 2011.
Overall, population growth has slowed down over the past 10 years – the 2011 census showed a 7.8% rise since 2001.
The figures reflect long-term changes in the UK population, with the balance tilting gradually away from younger age groups and towards the elderly.
Some 18.6% of the population of England and Wales were aged 65 and over on census day 2021, up from 16.4% in 2011. By contrast, the percentage of under-20s fell from 24% to 23.1%.
A total of 25 local authorities recorded a drop in population, including Sunderland, Blackpool and Swansea and areas of London such as Westminster, Camden and Kensington & Chelsea.
Social butterflies should head to Tower Hamlets, the most crowded part of the country with 15,695 residents per square kilometre.
But if you crave the quiet life, try Eden in Cumbria or Powys in mid-Wales – at 26 people per square kilometre, they are the emptiest areas.
The survey, carried out on March 21 last year, came against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.
The ONS said: “Population change in certain areas may reflect how the Covid-19 pandemic affected people’s choice of usual residence on census day.”
