Rise in people living alone in UK driven entirely by over-65s
In 2024, there were an estimated 4.3 million people aged over 65 living alone, up from 3.5 million in 2014, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
This age group accounted for just over half (51.1%) of all people living alone last year, compared with 45.5% in 2014.
The statistics body said: 'People aged 65 years or over accounted in full for the increase in people living alone in 2024 compared with 2014.'
There were around 4.1 million people aged under 65 years old living alone in both 2014 and 2024, the ONS said, adding that the 'increasing proportions of people living alone in older age groups reflects an ageing population'.
A higher proportion of women aged 65 or over in households lived alone (40.9%) than men of the same age (27%), which the ONS said is partly because of women having a higher life expectancy than men.
The latest data from the ONS estimated there were 8.4 million people living alone in the UK in 2024, up 11% from 7.6 million in 2014.
Meanwhile, the proportion of young adults in the UK living with their parents has grown by almost 10% in a decade.
Young men – aged between 20 and 34 years old – were more likely to be at home with their parents than women in the same age group in 2024, according to the ONS.
There were an estimated 3.6 million people in this age group in a family with their parent or parents in 2024, up 9.9% from 3.3 million in 2014, the ONS said.
While a third (33.7%) of men in this age group lived with parents, this compared to less than a quarter (22.1%) of women.
The ONS said more young adults living with their parents at older ages is part of a 'trend of adults reaching milestones later in life' and may be 'explained by a number of factors including increased housing costs'.
The latest statistics also showed that lone-parent families were less likely to contain dependent children in 2024 – 62.5%, down from just over two thirds or 66.1% in 2014.
The proportion of lone parents who are fathers has grown, from 13.1% a decade ago, to 16.7% last year.
While married couples still made up the largest proportion of families in the latest estimates, this has decreased to 65.1% last year from 67.1% in 2014.
The ONS said this was down to more couples living together without getting married.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Man left with 'suspected spinal injuries' after jumping from pier
A man has been left with "suspected spinal injuries" after jumping from a pier. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution confirmed in a social media post that they attended an incident on July 27 at Eastbourne Pier, just after 8pm. The RNLI said they were called to the scene "after reports of someone jumping" from the pier. Rescuers then "located the casualty being held up by bystanders in the shallow water under the pier with suspected spinal injuries". An HM Coastguard spokesperson confirmed its rescue teams also attended, alongside ambulance crews. The full RNLI post read: "Our D-Class Inshore Lifeboat was tasked for an immediate launch after reports of someone jumping from Eastbourne Pier. "Two minutes after launching, the crew located the casualty being held up by bystanders in the shallow water under the pier with suspected spinal injuries. "The crew carried out an initial assessment before being joined by Coastguard Rescue Officers and ambulance crews. "Emergency crews worked to stabilise the casualty before being transported to hospital by ambulance for further treatment." (Image: RNLI) The post went on to stress the dangers of jumping from pier, adding: "Pier jumping might look like fun — but it can be deadly. "The RNLI is urging people to think twice before jumping from piers, groynes, or sea walls. "Hidden underwater hazards, sudden changes in water depth, strong tides, and the risk of cold water shock can all turn a split-second thrill into a tragedy. "Even experienced swimmers can get caught off guard. "In a coastal emergency, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard." Read more: Watch first trailer for new Battle of Hastings epic drama as release date given New public artwork by 'celebrated artist' to be installed on major throughway Indian restaurant gets one-star food hygiene rating following inspection A coastguard spokesperson added: "Alerted at around 8.15pm, Coastguard Rescue Teams from Birling Gap and Eastbourne and an inshore lifeboat from Eastbourne RNLI were sent to the scene. "The person was located and recovered to a place of safety before getting transferred to hospital."
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Washington Post
How presidents use the autopen to sign documents
Cookie Choices for EU, Swiss & UK Residents We and our 912 partners store and access personal data, like browsing data or unique identifiers, on your device. Selecting I Accept enables tracking technologies to support the purposes shown under we and our partners process data to provide. Selecting Reject All or withdrawing your consent will disable them. If trackers are disabled, some content and ads you see may not be as relevant to you. You can resurface this menu to change your choices or withdraw consent at any time by clicking the Manage Preferences link on the bottom of the webpage . Your choices will have effect within our Website. For more details, refer to our Privacy Policy. If you click 'I accept,' in addition to processing data using cookies and similar technologies for the purposes to the right, you also agree we may process the profile information you provide and your interactions with our surveys and other interactive content for personalized advertising. If you are an EU, Swiss, or UK resident and you do not accept, we will process cookies and associated data for strictly necessary purposes and process non-cookie data as set forth in our If you click 'I accept,' in addition to processing data using cookies and similar technologies for the purposes to the right, you also agree we may process the profile information you provide and your interactions with our surveys and other interactive content for personalized you are an EU, Swiss, or UK resident and you do not accept, we will process cookies and associated data for strictly necessary purposes and process non-cookie data as set forth in our Privacy Policy (consistent with law and, if applicable, other choices you have made).
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dear Richard Madeley: My otherwise lovely neighbour is playing fast and loose with my lawnmower
Dear Richard, For the second time this year, I've lent my lawnmower to my next-door neighbour, only to have to remind him to give it back, and to find on receiving it that he hasn't topped up the petrol. Perhaps he thinks it runs on magic beans. To make matters worse, this time, one of the blades was chipped. I don't want to be 'that guy' but I am feeling miffed. I didn't perform a close inspection of the mower when he brought it back so didn't notice or mention these issues then – is it too late to do so now? And should I just withhold it in future, or stipulate conditions? I'm mortified by awkward exchanges at the best of times; plus this guy is in other respects an exemplary neighbour – friendly, minds his own business, takes in deliveries, waters the garden when we're away, and so on. What's the best way to deal with this?– G, Surrey Dear G, If you're proposing risking falling out with a good, reliable, helpful neighbour over a few tablespoons of petrol and a chipped lawnmower blade (which you may have been the one to damage), then frankly you need your head examining. The value of good neighbourly relations is beyond rubies. Have you ever lived next door to someone with whom you've had a falling out, G? Talk to someone who has. It can poison daily life beyond recovery. As I wrote here only last week, it's worth performing back-handsprings through hoops to stay on good terms with the folks next door. Right, let's sweep up this hill of beans. First, the chipped blade. As you yourself say, you didn't inspect the machine when it was returned, so how do you know you haven't damaged it since? Or, assuming you didn't cast your eagle eye over the thing prior to lending it to this guy, that it wasn't already chipped? Answer: you don't. So drop it. Now, the fuel. I don't use a petrol mower but I just checked and the ones you push around burn about half a litre per hour. The bigger things you ride use about a litre. That's roughly 67 pence worth for the first, under £1.50 for the second. G, G, G. Come on. Are you really going to present this bloke with a bill for 67p? How would you feel if he made a storage charge for the parcels he takes in for you when you're away? And yes, it must be irritating if you can't use it until you've filled it up, but unless you're riding it to the petrol station and back surely you have some petrol in the shed or garage, and it's just a matter of topping it up? I have one word for you, G: perspective. I strongly recommend you get some. You can find more of Richard Madeley's advice here or submit your own dilemma below. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Solve the daily Crossword
