Norfolk population

The population of Norfolk and Waveney is growing.

Since 2011, Norfolk and Waveney's population has increased by an estimated 57,900 people to 1,032,700 The population is forecast to increase by a further 111,700 over the next 20 years. These estimations come from the office for national statistics census 2021.

Most of the population increase will be in the older age groups, with those aged 65 and above increasing by 93,900. Norfolk has the 15th most elderly population in England but is projected to drop to the 17th largest by 2040.

Visit the Norfolk Insight website for further information about the population in Norfolk.

Population by age group for males and females

Based on the 2021 census, 52% of the adult population is identified as female and 48% is identified as male. However, not all the population define themselves as male or female.

The 2021 census show that the population split by age grouping for males and females in Norfolk is:

Male:

Males aged 18-24 years old: 35,324
Males aged 25-34 years old: 53,250
Males aged 35-44 years old: 51,091
Males aged 45-54 years old: 58,241
Males ages 55-64 years old: 60,952
Males aged 65-74 years old: 55,983
Males aged 75-84 years old: 36,212
Males aged 85-89 years old: 8,122
Males aged 90 years old and over: 3,796

Female:

Females aged 18-24 years old: 34,889
Females aged 25-34 years old: 54,576
Females aged 35-44 years old: 52,216
Females aged 45-54 years old: 60,237
Females ages 55-64 years old: 64,178
Females aged 65-74 years old: 60,417
Females aged 75-84 years old: 40,489
Females aged 85-89 years old: 11,294
Females aged 90 years old and over: 7,447

Population predictions for Norfolk

In Norfolk, from 2020 to 2040 there will be an estimated:

36% increase in people aged over 65, mostly in those aged over 75 years of age
3% increase in people of working age
1% decrease in children and young people

This increase in older people means that by 2040 the non-working age population (those aged under 16 or over 65 years of age) will have increased by almost 91,500 whereas the working age population will have increased by just over 20,200.

This means that there will be fewer people of working age for every person under 16 or over 65 years of age. Planned increases in the state pension age will only partially offset this relative increase of pensioners.

Population predictions for the Norfolk districts

The 2021 census and the Projecting Older People Population Information System (POPPI) estimates the population from 2021 to 2040 for each Norfolk district.

This is also compared to the 2011 census to show how the populations of people of a working and non-working age has changed.

This data highlights that North Norfolk had the highest percentage of people aged over 65 years of age (34%). However, Breckland and South Norfolk have the largest percentage increases in the population of 65 year olds and over with this group of the Norfolk population expected to increase by 44% from the 2021 position by 2040.

Breckland

It's estimated that Breckland had a population of 35,301 people in 2021:

25.6% of people were 65 years old and over. This is a 25.8% increase from 2011.
3.6% of people were 85 years old and over
There was a 3.6% increase in people 15 to 64 years old from 2011

The Breckland population is set to increase to:

38,831 people in 2025. This is a 10% increase from 2021.
43,773 people in 2030. This is a 24% increase from 2021.
50,833 people in 2040. This is a 44% increase from 2021.

Broadland

It's estimated that Broadland had a population of 34,070 people in 2021:

26.5% of people were 65 years old and over. This is a 22.6% increase from 2011.
3.8% of people were 85 years old and over
There was a 0.6% increase in people 15 to 64 years old from 2011

The Broadland population is set to increase to:

36,796 people in 2025. This is an eight percent increase from 2021.
40,543 people in 2030. This is a 19% increase from 2021.
45,654 people in 2040. This is a 34% increase from 2021.

Great Yarmouth

It's estimated that Great Yarmouth had a population of 23,937 people in 2021:

25.3% of people were 65 years old and over. This is a 17.8% increase from 2011.
3.4% of people were 85 years old and over
There was a 1.7% decrease in people 15 to 64 years old from 2011

The Great Yarmouth population is set to increase to:

25,852 people in 2025. This is an eight percent increase from 2021.
28,485 people in 2030. This is a 19% increase from 2021.
32, 076 people in 2040. This is a 34% increase from 2021.

King's Lynn and West Norfolk

It's estimated that Kings Lynn and West Norfolk had a population of 39,936 people in 2021:

26.3% of people were 65 years old and over. This is a 17.9% increase from 2011.
3.5% of people were 85 years old and over
There was a 0.1% decrease in 15 to 64 year olds from 2011

The Kings Lynn and West Norfolk population is set to increase to:

42, 732 people in 20205. This is a seven percent increase from 2021.
46,326 people in 2030. This is a 16% increase from 2021.
51, 917 people in 2040. This is a 30% increase from 2021.

North Norfolk

It's estimated that North Norfolk had a population of 34,500 people in 2021:

34% of people were 65 years old and over. This is a 17.8% increase from 2011.
5% of people were 85 years old and over
There was a 5.6% decrease in 15 to 64 year olds from 2011

The North Norfolk population is set to increase to:

37,605 people in 2025. This is a nine percent increase from 2021.
41,055 people in 2030. This is a 19% increase from 2021.
46,230 people in 2040. This is a 34% increase from 2021.

Norwich

It's estimated that Norwich had a population of 21,509 people in 2021:

15.2% of people were 65 years old and over. This is a 10.6% increase from 2011.
2.3% of people were 85 years old and over
There was a 8.9% increase in 15 to 64 year olds from 2011

The Norwich population is set to increase to:

22,800 people in 2025. This is a six percent increase from 2021.
24,305 people in 2030. This is a 13% increase from 2021.
27,747 people in 2040. This is a 29% increase from 2021.

South Norfolk

It's estimated that South Norfolk has a population of 34,511 people in 2021:

24.4% of people were 65 years old and over. This is a 30.1% increase from 2011.
3.5% of people were 85 years old and over
There was a 9.7% increase in 15 to 64 year olds from 2011

The South Norfolk population is set to increase to:

38,307 people in 2025. This is an 11% increase from 2021.
42,794 people in 2030. This is a 24% increase from 2021.
49,696 people in 2040. This is a 44% increase from 2021.

People aged 65 and over who need help with at least one domestic task

The health survey for England 2016: social care for older adults asked people aged 65 years and above if they needed help with at least one domestic task:

Doing routine housework or laundry
Shopping for food
Getting out of the house
Doing paperwork or paying bills

The prevalence rates from the survey have been applied to office for national statistics population projections of the 65 and over population to give estimated numbers predicted to need help with at least one task.

POPPI estimates the number of over 65 year olds to need help with at least one domestic task from 2020 to 2040 for each Norfolk district:

Breckland

2020: 10,315 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2025: 11,552 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2030: 13,001 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2035: 14,262 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2040: 15,457 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task

Broadland

2020: 10,043 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2025: 11,122 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2030: 12,385 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2035: 13,344 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2040: 14,092 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task

Great Yarmouth and Waveneny

2020: 7,011 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2025: 7,754 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2030: 8,645 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2035: 9,396 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2040: 9,964 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task

King's Lynn and West Norfolk

2020: 11,560 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2025: 12,543 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2030: 13,812 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2035: 14,883 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2040: 15,734 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task

North Norfolk

2020: 10,240 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2025: 11,232 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2030: 12,512 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2035: 13,517 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2040: 14,396 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task

Norwich

2020: 6,293 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2025: 6,708 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2030: 7,295 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2035: 7,879 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2040: 8,423 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task

South Norfolk

2020: 9,964 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2025: 11,335 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2030: 12,804 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2035: 14,049 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task
2040: 15,164 people aged 65 and over who need help with at one domestic task

The majority of this support will be provided by unpaid carers (family or friends) and our reliance on unpaid carers will continue to increase.

It is estimated that around 11% of the people estimated as requiring support with at least one domestic task will have support needs that require support from home care services commissioned by the Council or by people as private funders.

Next : Dementia

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