Population
Child population falls 6 percentage points since 1971
Proportion of UK-born population aged under 16: by sex
The proportion of the UK-born population aged under 16 has fallen from 25 per cent in 1971 to 19 per cent in 2007. Projections suggest the proportion will be broadly similar in 2026. In 1971, the proportion of the UK male population aged under 16 was 27 per cent compared with 24 per cent for girls. This is because more boys are being born than girls each year in the UK. However, these levels are converging over time, and in 2007 the proportions were 20 per cent and 18 per cent respectively. By 2026 the gap is projected to close to 19 and 18 per cent respectively.
Although the proportion of the UK-born population aged under 16 is in decline, ethnic minority groups have a younger age profile which is increasing. Using three-year rolling averages for 2003–2005 and 2006–2008, the highest increases in the number of children aged under 16 over this period were for those in the following ethnic groups; ‘Other Black’ (28.2 per cent), ‘Other White’ (26.0 per cent) and ‘Other Asian’ (24.6 per cent). This compares with a 6 per cent fall in the level of the population of ‘White British’ children aged under 16 over the same period.
Proportion of resident population aged under 16: by UK country, 2007
In 2007, the proportion of the population aged under 16 living in England, Wales and Scotland reflected the picture of the UK as a whole. The exception was Northern Ireland, where the proportions of boys and girls were 22.6 and 20.6 per cent respectively, giving Northern Ireland the youngest population in the UK. In England, the West Midlands had the highest proportion of boys (20.3 per cent) and Outer London the highest proportion of girls (19.4 per cent). Inner London had the lowest proportion of boys (18.2 per cent), and the South West had the lowest proportion of girls (17.0 per cent).
Source: Office for National Statistics; Government Actuary's Department; General Register Office for Scotland; Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
Notes: The first chart contains mid-year population estimates for 1971 to 2007; 2006-based projections for 2011 to 2026.
The estimated resident population of an area includes all people who usually live there, whatever their nationality. Members of HM and US Armed Forces in England and Wales are included on a residential basis wherever possible. HM Forces stationed outside England and Wales are not included. Students are taken to be resident at their term time address.
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