News
October 2007
9,000 centenarians in 2006
There were 9,000 centenarians (people aged 100 or more years old) in England and Wales in 2006, according to a new report released by the Office for National Statistics. The number of centenarians has increased 90 times since 1911 when the estimated number was around 100.
The major contributor to the increasing number of centenarians is increased survival between ages 80 and 100 due to improvements in hygiene and sanitation, improved food, housing and living standards and medical treatment.
There are proportionately more female than male centenarians. In mid-2006 there were 7 women for every man. This ratio has recently began to fall as survival to this age becomes more common and also because recent mortality improvements have been greater for males. In mid-2002 there were 8 women for every man.
Find out more about population changes on The Office for National Statistics website