Men's life expectancy increases faster than for women

THE number of men in the UK living to a very old age is increasing faster than the rate for women, helping to push the elderly population to a new record high, figures show.

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Some 210,520 males were estimated to be aged 90 or over in 2024, more than double the number two decades earlier in 2004, which was 97,570.

By contrast, the number of females rose by only a third during this period, from 309,300 in 2004 to 414,720 in 2024.

It means that while the majority of the UK's elderly population continue to be women, the gender balance has shifted over time.

Men made up 24% of those aged 90 and over in 2004 - but by 2024 this had climbed to 33.7%.

A similar shift is under way among the UK’s centenarians.

Males accounted for 10.9% of people aged 100 and over in 2004, or around one in nine.