BRITAIN'S AGEING POPULATION

Britain's ageing population

Britain's ageing population

Introduction

An aging population is an increase in the population share of persons over working age. If it is less than 8%, the population is young, if it is more than 12% it is old. Population migration or mass mortalities of young people in the wars may also contribute to an aging population. There are two causes of an aging population. The first is the aging of the bottom (the result of decreasing birth rate) and the second is the aging of the "top" (the result of increasing life expectancy and mortality at older ages in low fertility).

The demographic aging of the population is increasing the proportion of older people in the general population. This is the result of long-term demographic changes, shifts in the nature of human reproduction, fertility, mortality, and their relationships, as well as some migration. The British population is aging at a rapid pace. Estimates that a number of people aged over 85 came to 1.4 million in mid-2009, a population of approximately 62 million souls (McVeigh, 2009).Problems

There are three important problems that are at the base of British ageing population. First is an increase in longevity. People have a longer life span mainly due to improvements in health, health care preventives and diet. The average life expectancy in Britain increased by 30 years during the 20th century (Heuveline, 2003). This is one of the imminent factors that give birth to an ageing population.

Second problem include lower/ declining birth rates. Researches show that the women in UK are having fewer babies since the past 40 years. Recent researches show that they currently are having 1.9 children, which is the highest figure since 1973, but far lower than 2.93 in 1964. This is another factor that is giving rise to an ageing population in Britain (Khaw, 2000).

The last or the third issue due to which Britain population is ageing is due to the migration. Until the mid-1999, and in the years 2008 and 2009, the prime reason why population grew is because of natural increase. In the mid of these periods, migration has been the main reason why there is a change in population (McVeigh, 2009).

An ageing population is seen as a success of modern health care, but it undermines the long-term funding for our protection since the increase in life expectancy accompanied by an increase in demand for health care and social benefits as well as a need for longer retirement pensions. This phenomenon affects all European countries especially Britain where ageing population rate has been rising rapidly in the last decade. The aging population has impacted Britain adversely especially in the functioning of their society.

Another possible problem is of personal savings. It is essential for societies to save in order to be able to assign for future funds for investment. Ageing population is giving rise to this dilemma. Aging population leads to a number of economic and health and social consequences. Britain currently account for about half of all budgetary funds at the disposal of the health-care costs of medical care of elderly (Pilkington, ...