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.

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:

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.