West Dorset population figures

Dyddiad y datganiad:
22 June 2022

FOI Reference: FOI/2022/4226

You asked

I am doing a study of affordable housing need in my hometown of Bridport, Dorset.  ONS data shows that in West Dorset more people die every year than are born. This is clearly driven by the fact that according to the data that I have found, given below, 43% of the Bridport population are aged 60 or over. So, no wonder that the extant population is decreasing. However, ONS data clearly shows that the population of West Dorset is set to increase substantially in coming years and that increase will be mainly in-migration from other parts of the UK.

Could you possibly

  1. Confirm the % age of UK population aged 60+?
  2. I used to have a link to a future West Dorset population ONS spreadsheet.  I think the base document was called 'What Homes Where?'. Could you please give me a link to that?

We said

​Thank you for your Freedom of Information request asking for the %age of the UK population aged 60+ and for a link to a future West Dorset population ONS spreadsheet.

The following dataset Estimates of the population for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, provides Mid-2020 population estimates. Under 'Mid-2020 edition of this dataset', click on and open the xls file, then click on the 'MYE2 - Persons' tab. The data for the United Kingdom can be found on row 9.  

To calculate the %age of the UK population aged 60+:

  1. Add all the figures in the United Kingdom row 9 from age 60 onwards
  2. Divide this figure by the United Kingdom row 9 - All ages total
  3. Times the figure you get by 100
  4. Based on the figures in our files, this gives a %age of the UK population aged 60+

Please note that the Mid-2020 population estimates provide the most up to date data that is currently available, though initial results from the 2021 Census will be published on 28 June 2022.

Having searched the ONS website, we have not been able to locate a dataset called 'What homes where', so am unable to provide you with a link to this.

Instead, you may find that the information you need is in our Population projections for local authorities: Table 2. Under '2018 based edition of this dataset', click on and open the xls file, then select 'Persons'.  The data for West Dorset start on row 7088.

Please note that the 2018-based subnational population projections provide the most up to date data that is currently available.

When accessing any of our files, please read the 'notes, terms and conditions' contained within them.

Should you require anything further, please do not hesitate to contact us directly at pop.info@ons.gov.uk.

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