Ageing in England: What the Evidence Tells Us in 2025

The State of Ageing 2025 report, published by the Centre for Ageing Better, sets out a clear picture of how people are ageing across England today. It uses a wide range of national evidence and the voices of older people themselves to show both progress and persistent challenges in later life. 

A Larger, More Diverse Older Population

England’s older population continues to grow. More people are living into their seventies, eighties and beyond, and the fastest-growing group is those aged 85 and over. Coastal and rural communities have particularly high numbers of older residents.

The report also highlights that the older population is becoming more diverse, especially in towns and cities where people aged 50–64 from minority ethnic backgrounds are already a larger share of this age group.

Health and Wellbeing: Uneven Experiences

Although many people enjoy good health as they age, life expectancy and healthy life expectancy vary greatly across the country. In some areas, people live significantly longer and healthier lives than in others. Poor health is more common where there are higher levels of poverty and social disadvantage.

Homes That Affect Health and Security

A surprising finding in the report is how many older people live in poor-quality homes that affect their health something which has also been reported by the National Centre for Social Research. Around 2.3 million older adults live in homes that are damp, cold or unsafe. These problems can increase health risks, such as heart and respiratory issues.

Homes that are too hot in summer or too cold in winter are also shown to have real impacts on wellbeing, and many older people face accessibility issues in their homes that make everyday tasks harder.

Work and Financial Security

The report highlights that many older people are working for longer, but there is still an “age penalty” in employment. In some regions, the difference in job-holding between people in midlife and older age is larger than in others.

Financial security in later life also varies widely. Some areas have much higher rates of pensioner poverty than others, and changes to pension ages could affect many people who are unable to stop work early due to low savings or poor health.

Social Connection and Ageing in Society

The report shows how important community and social connections are for healthy ageing. Loneliness and isolation remain serious issues for many older people, especially those who live alone or have mobility challenges. Ageism and negative societal attitudes also make everyday life harder for some people.

Why It Matters

Overall, the State of Ageing resport 2025 highlights both the opportunities and challenges of an ageing population. It shows that many people are living longer and making important contributions to their communities, but also that there are deep inequalities that affect how well people age.

To help people understand the key points quickly, the Centre for Ageing Better has produced a set of 40 easy-to-use infographics. These infographics cover the main themes of the report, including population trends, health, work, financial security, homes and society. They’re free to download and perfect for sharing or using in presentations.