The Isle of Wight’s population of people over 65 has grown by 25% – an increase of 8,200 – in the last 10 years alone, Office for National Statistics data has shown.
Data from the 2021 census has revealed the large growth in pensioners in the last decade compared to a decrease in children aged 0-15. Nationally, the over 65 population has grown by 20.1% so the Isle of Wight is around 5% above the national average.
The most populous age bracket in the latest census is people between the 70-74 years of age (11,200) this follows the data of 10 years ago when the most frequent age of Island inhabitants was between 60-74 (11,000).
Whilst the number of elderly people has gone up, the number of children has fallen by 6.3% from 20,900 to 19,600 – a decrease of 1,300 children. This revelation comes just weeks after Island School leaders said that the Island should scrap up to 25% of its primary schools – due to a lack of education proficiency for large classes. The number of Islanders aged 15-64 has also fallen by 5.3%.
The overall population of the Isle of Wight has grown by 1.5% to 140,400 in the last 10 years, up from 138,300. Of that number, 72,400 are female and 78,100 are male.
Although the overall population has increased by just 2,100, the number of households on the Isle of Wight has increased by 3,950 to 64,800 in total – an increase of 6.1%.
So most visitors/patients going to StMarys may have poor eyesight,yet hospital have the worst carpark pay system,90% of us (young and old) can’t see the key board (not qwerty) to enter reg,pay with card – with card machine oneside and scan plate at bottom the other – come on they had 2yrs+ to upgrade during COVID. Borderline dissgrimination. I wonder how much is made out of fines ?. Why don’t hospital run parking themselves and money could go back into hospital
I’m just trying to figure out how, exactly is your comment relevant to this story.
Amazing.
Aside from this post being completely unrelated to the article. . .
What is someone who can’t see the keyboard doing driving a car?
Before some genius tries to point out that the patient may have been driven there by someone else, I assume the diver does have good enough vision to see the keyboard?
I was always scared some drivers might actually have a really bad eyesight yet continue to drive. Now my fears are confirmed! Please don’t endanger my life and stop driving if you can’t!
In another report, the number of holiday lets has increased from 908 to 1262 between 2018 and 2021, that’s an increase of 39%, or 13% a year.
We cannot keep building on farm land to accommodate pensioners retiring here from the mainland, 2nd homers and holiday lets.
It is also worth remembering that older people have far more medical issues than younger people. It’s already extremely difficult for Islander’s own parents and grandparents to access healthcare, it will be nearly impossible unless we stop importing more from the mainland.
You seem to be confusing visitors with locals. For all your quoting of figures, your thinking is very muddled. Or is your comment simply mindless over-reaction?
Maybe far better to euthanase all over-60s now ??
And this is why the younger generation have nothing to do, more pensioners equal more complaints of the youths means more places closed for the younger generations
Hold that thought, we’ve got a dispersal order because pensioners get scared when they see more than 1 young person at a time.
The young generation will be old one day too. Hope they get a bit more consideration than they showed to their forebears…
Sorry, Steve, but if you really believe that then you must have porridge where your brain should be.
And those pensioners that are wealthy enough to buy a property and settle here, are also likely to be active and have the means to patronise small island businesses.
Just a thought before you hateful bastards start on as usual.
Yeah, they settle here in their mid 60s when they are fairly fit and healthy. The kids and grandkids visit in the summer, all lovely and nice.
Fast-forward 20 years. They are now in their 80s and suffer from numerous health and mobility issues. Unlike Islanders who have their children and grandchildren nearby to help out, they have nobody, so all of their care needs fall on the Council and the NHS.
They bring somthing into the economy they have paid into the system for a lifetime, more than can be said for those that appear on the horizon in rubber-dubs and are swiftly given more than anyone.
The number of migrants living on the Isle of Wight is tiny, and they are not given any kind of preference. Get your head out of the Daily Express and grow up.
Yep, agree, the better of two evils.
Care is at best basic and elderly who have dementia are largely ignored or they’d needs not taken into consideration.
So expensive for what? It doesn’t warrant over a thousand pounds per week.
Work all your life to help your children but it gets sucked up by the government and you very little in return.
Maybe people shouldn’t strive so hard all their lives because it gets taken away anyway in the end
Like it or not Zog, YOU are not ageless. And if and when YOU are in your 70s or 80s and are suffering overwhelming pain or disease and disability (and you will), you may well look back to your ill-considered comments with some regret.
Well said, Nelson. These “ageists” will regret their comments one day but by then they will be blaming someone else.
Yes and islanders have to pay full price for card over eighty years old. Worked until 78 paid all taxes and cared for their disabled child who died, no help from the government. Just because they’ve a house they have to sell up everything to pay even though they’re I’ll it’s shocking. Go home all you people expecting handouts!! Or give something back to this country first don’t just take
I don’t see a chip on your shoulder, it’s more like a log!!!
This article clearly states that the total Island population has increased by 2100 and not all of those will be retirees.
The over-65’s have increased by 8200, so most of them are residents who haven’t moved here but have just got 10 years older and live longer.
Before these figures were published I suggested on another article that there was a population inbalance on the island which will only grow further, just purely on medical services at the hospital I can see a time when childrens specialist services will only be dealt with on the island and the hospital will predominently become a geriatric facility, that is not good for the island.
Ooooh! I want to be old when I grow up. I also want my fair share of the NHS services!
And the most miserable old git is obviously YOU!
Haha!!!!agreed
Yes!! And we still have one, just one bloody doctor who can diagnose and treat dementia in this flippin island!!! The waiting list is beyond ridiculous and the wait after the initial appointment is equally shocking and devastating. Why is this? Does he get commission!? Surely it’s not that hard to train out highly intelligent doctors here if can’t be that difficult. Absolute bxxxx!!!
Given the choice, I’d much rather have pensioners moving here than the individuals and families who the Council bring over and who cause so many problems. I’m pretty sure it’s not the pensioners who are using knuckledusters or drugs or having armed police arrive at their doors.
Perhaps it is not pensioners moving here but the younger generation moving away that has caused the imbalance and one of the reasons is there are less youngsters being born. Rubbish wages, less skilled work and the cost of commuting to the north island. Even I would be gone if I could afford it and I am a pensioner.