London, Sep 30 (IANS) Britain now has a total of 12,640 people over 100 years of age, official statistics show.
There were just 2,500 centenarians in 1980, the Daily Express reports.
The proportion of Britons aged over 85 has doubled from one in 100 in 1985 to two in 100 at present. By 2035, this data is projected to reach five in 100.
The data for the year 2010 on Britain’s -ageing population was released to coincide with the Older People’s Day Saturday.
Better medical treatment, improved nutrition and rising -living standards have contributed to the surge.
A newborn boy can now expect to live 78.1 years and a baby girl to 82.1, the statistics show.
The increasing number of older people has pushed up the average age of the entire population. It rose to 39.7 years in 2010 compared to 35 in 1985.
West Somerset has the highest average age in the country with 52.7 years.
Oxford, Manchester and Cambridge have the lowest average ages at 29.2, 29.4 and 29.5, respectively, because their colleges attract young adults to study and live in those areas, the report said.
