One of the more startling projections to arise from the latest population statistics is that even with an extra 5 million or so younger people, around one in 20 British residents (more than 3 million people) will be over the age of 85 by the year 2047.
The number of Britons reaching 100 years old – once a rare achievement – could stand at a quarter of a million by then, with the baby boomers still going strong (if not as strong as they were). Yet the news that Britain is getting older is not likely to dominate public discussion.
