Local population is ‘ageing’

 

The first review from last year’s census also shows that an incredible 40% more people are aged over 90, with 1,400 residents approaching a century, while the number of children under five has dropped from its 1991 levels.

 

The response rate from Powys residents was amongst the best in Wales at 94.4%, slightly higher than the Wales rate of 93%.

A spokesperson for Powys County Council said: “The census population and household estimates will help the government, councils, businesses and community organisations identify needs and plan future service provision.”

 

On Census night (Sunday March 27, 2011), there were an estimated 133,000 residents and 58,400 households in Powys.

The population grew by 6,700 in the 10 years since the last census, an increase of 5.3%, from 126,300 in 2001.  This was slightly lower than the population growth of 7,000 in the previous decade.

 

The percentage of the population in Powys aged 65 and over was the highest seen in any census at 23% - a total of 30,200.

The 1,400 residents aged 90 and over in 2011, compared to 1,000 in 2001 and just 600 in 1991.

 

There were 6,600 children aged under five compared with 6,800 in 2001 and 7,000 in 1991.

The figures will make worrying reading for health and care chiefs who are already struggling to cope with the current budgets available and it will only become harder as our population continues to grow older. However, education bosses will see them as justification for their ongoing programme of school closures as student numbers drop.

Further information from the 2011 Census First Release for Powys can be found on our Powys-i website www.powys-i.org.uk.