Demographic Trends: Ageing Population (AQA A Level Sociology): Revision Note

The ageing population

• The UK population is ageing, meaning that the average age is increasing and a growing proportion of the population are aged 65 and over

• Trends in the UK since 1900:

  • In 1971, the average age was 34.1 years

  • By 2022, it had risen to 40.7, and is projected to reach 42.6 by 2031

• This trend is driven by three main factors:

  • Increasing life expectancy – medical and social advances mean people are living longer

  • Declining infant mortality – fewer babies die in infancy, so more people survive into old age

  • Declining fertility rate – fewer young people are being born, increasing the proportion of older individuals in the population

Consequences of an ageing population

• As the number of people aged 65 and over now exceeds those under 16, the UK faces several social, economic, and policy-related consequences that are reshaping society

The dependency ratio

• The dependency ratio refers to the relationship between the working-age population and the non-working dependent population (children and retirees)

• A growing elderly population increases the number of people who are economically dependent on the state

• This places greater pressure on the working population, who fund pensions, welfare, and healthcare through taxation

• By 2033, it is projected there will be 2.8 people of working age for every one pensioner

• In response, the state pension age has risen to 66, with plans to increase it to 67 by 2028, and possibly 70, due to concerns over the affordability of pensions and healthcare

Public services

• Older people make greater use of health and social care services (e.g., NHS, home care, hospitals), though many remain healthy into old age

• This creates increased demand and spending on services tailored to the elderly

• Ageing influences long-term planning in areas such as:

  • housing

  • transport

  • healthcare facilities

One-person pensioner households

• There's a growing number of elderly people living alone

• In 2013, 1 in 8 households consisted of a single pensioner — mainly women, due to their longer life expectancy

• Chambers (2012) describes this trend as the “feminisation of later life”

• It leads to greater housing demand and potential social isolation

Beanpole families

• Brannen (2003) links population ageing to the rise of the beanpole family:

  • Families with fewer children but more surviving generations (e.g., grandparents, parents, children).

• These multi-generational families are becoming more common due to increased longevity

• Elderly relatives often provide childcare, supporting working parents

• This strengthens intergenerational bonds between grandparents and grandchildren

Positive ageing

• Blaikie (1999) argues that ageing is no longer viewed purely as a time of dependency

• Many older people are:

  • healthy

  • financially independent

  • active contributors to the economy

• The elderly represent a ‘third age’ of leisure and consumption — seen in rising engagement with travel, fitness, and anti-ageing products

Policy implications

• Hirsch (2005) argues that an ageing population presents significant policy challenges, such as:

  • adapting housing for elderly needs

  • rethinking the structure of working life and retirement

  • creating sustainable plans for funding pensions and social care

Modern vs postmodern views on old age

Modernist perspective

• Old age is viewed as a time of decline and dependency

• Identity is linked to a person’s role in production

• Once retired, older people are often seen as powerless and dependent

• Ageism remains present in media, employment, and wider society

Postmodernist perspective

• Life stages have become blurred; age is now shaped more by lifestyle and identity than biology

• Consumption (not production) defines a person’s social role

• Older people are active consumers (e.g., cosmetic surgery, travel, fashion)

• This challenges ageist stereotypes and promotes diverse identities in later life

Inequality among the old

• Pilcher (1995) highlights that old age can bring significant inequality:

  • Social class: working-class pensioners often have lower life expectancy and less generous pensions than middle-class retirees

  • Gender: women typically earn less over their lifetime, resulting in lower pensions, and face additional ageist stereotyping