23/10/2007

Pensioners Numbers Multiplying

National statistics, just published, that show the UK’s population will grow by 4.4 million to reach 65 million by 2016, means that in Northern Ireland the population is also set to increase – but with a lot more people of pensionable age around.

While the number of children is to remain constant, there will be far more people of pension age living here within 15 years – with obvious implications for social services and pension funding.

Overall, there will be an additional 70,000 people living here within the next five years, representing a four percent jump.

The Province’s population is actually projected to grow from 1.742 million in 2006 to 1.812 million in 2011, according to figures released by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

This is equivalent to an average annual rate of growth of 0.8%. Over the longer term, the population is projected to reach 1.922 million by 2021 an increase of 180,000 people or 10% - an increase in population that takes both natural growth and population migration into account.

In the next five years it is projected that there will be 51,000 more births than deaths and 19,000 more people coming here to live than leaving and projections indicate a marked increase in the size of the population at older ages.

The number of people of pensionable age is projected to increase by around almost 10% in the next five years and by some 40% over the next 15 years, while the number of children is projected to remain broadly constant.

(BMcC)

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