Causes, Effects and Responses to an Ageing Population

The Dependency Ratio

Geographers measure the economic strain on a population using a specific calculation. It compares the dependents (children and the elderly) to the working-age population.

Worked Example

A geographer is studying the demographic data of a coastal town. The town has 15,000 children, 35,000 elderly residents, and 50,000 working-age adults. Calculate the dependency ratio for this town.

Step 1: Identify the values for the formula.

• $\text{Number of Children [0-14]} = 15{,}000$
• $\text{Number of Elderly [65+]} = 35{,}000$
• $\text{Number of Working Age [15-64]} = 50{,}000$

Step 2: Substitute into the equation.

• $\text{Dependency Ratio} = \frac{(15{,}000 + 35{,}000)}{50{,}000} \times 100$

Step 3: Calculate.

• $\text{Dependency Ratio} = \frac{50{,}000}{50{,}000} \times 100$
• $\text{Dependency Ratio} = 100$ (This means there are 100 dependents for every 100 working-age adults, indicating a very high economic strain).

Spatial Distribution of the Elderly

Why do certain areas of the UK feel like they have a much older population than others? The spatial distribution of the elderly is highly uneven, shaped by internal migration.

Elderly populations form distinct coastal clusters, particularly in the South-west and East of England. For example, Christchurch in Dorset is often dubbed the "Retirement Capital of the UK," with pensioners making up 30% of its population. This dense clustering results in local death rates (11.8 per 1000) that are notably higher than the UK average. These areas act as "pull" locations offering scenic landscapes, elderly-specific amenities, and warmer southern climates.

Conversely, major urban centres like London do not have an ageing demographic profile. Tower Hamlets has one of the lowest proportions of over-65s in the country because it attracts high numbers of young international migrants and recent graduates seeking employment. This creates a stark rural-urban divide, where remote rural areas have an average age of 45.9 years, while major conurbations average just 37.8 years.

Responses to the Ageing Population

Managing a demographic shift requires governments to balance economic stability with the needs of vulnerable citizens. To reduce state reliance, the UK government has implemented sweeping pension reforms.

The state pension age is being progressively raised. Having increased to 66 for both men and women in 2020, it is legislated to hit 67 by 2028 and 68 by 2046. This keeps people in the tax-paying workforce for longer while delaying the point at which they draw government funds. Additionally, the government introduced auto-enrolment for workplace private pensions to encourage personal financial independence.

To tackle healthcare strains, preventative measures are deployed, such as free flu vaccinations and the Winter Fuel Allowance (£100–£300) to stop older people from developing cold-related illnesses. Because the elderly have a very high voter turnout, their collective political influence (the grey vote) ensures these benefits are heavily protected.

Finally, the government attempts to grow the working-age population from the bottom up. Pro-natalist incentives, like Child Benefit and 30 hours of free childcare, aim to reverse falling birth rates. Net migration policies also help; by encouraging younger immigrants to settle in the UK, the dependency ratio improves. In 2021, the TFR for non-UK-born women was 2.03, compared to just 1.54 for UK-born women, showing how migration directly bolsters the future workforce.