English Health Improves Despite Ageing Population, ONS Data Reveals

The proportion of people reporting good health in England has risen over the past decade, marking a notable improvement even as the population has aged significantly. The Office for National Statistics released this finding in December 2024, based on detailed analysis of responses to Census 2011 and Census 2021, covering adults aged 16 to 90 years.

The headline figure tells a positive story: the percentage of people reporting being in “very good” or “good” health increased by 1.0 percentage point in England between the two census periods. This improvement is particularly noteworthy because population ageing would normally be expected to drive health reporting downward. According to ONS analysis, without the improvements observed in actual health reporting across different age groups, the figures would have declined by 1.2 percentage points instead. This means the gains among certain groups actually offset the structural effect of an older population.

The improvements in self-reported good health occurred primarily among older adults, representing a significant shift in how different age groups experience and report their wellbeing. In 2011, adults in England aged 70 to 74 years were 85 per cent less likely to report being in good health compared with those aged 35 to 39 years. By 2021, this gap had narrowed to 78 per cent less likely. This represents a genuine improvement in the health outcomes or health perceptions of people in their early seventies.

Perhaps more striking is the narrowing gap between young and older adults’ health reporting. In 2011, those aged 16 to 19 were 3.4 times more likely to report good health than those aged 35 to 39. By 2021, this ratio had fallen to 2.4 times. Whilst young adults still report substantially better health than those at older ages, the relative difference has contracted meaningfully. This suggests either that health among older age groups has genuinely improved, or that older adults’ expectations and perception of what constitutes “good” health have shifted.

The ONS analysis employed sophisticated statistical methods, including decomposition analysis, to unpick changes in health from changes in population composition. Researchers controlled for variables including sex, ethnicity, area deprivation, housing tenure, household composition, and unpaid care status. Notably, the analysis found very little change in the association between self-reported good health and these other sociodemographic characteristics. In other words, health improvements were relatively consistent across different demographic groups rather than concentrated in particular populations.

The findings come from the decennial Census, conducted on 21 March 2021, which surveyed the population of England and Wales. Census data provides the most comprehensive population snapshot available, allowing researchers to track changes across entire communities rather than relying on sampling. This dataset is particularly valuable because it allows individual-level tracking of respondents who participated in both the 2011 and 2021 Censuses.

The research does carry limitations worth noting. The analysis was restricted to sociodemographic variables available in both 2011 and 2021, meaning factors that influence health—such as health-related behaviours, healthcare access, or specific medical conditions—could not be directly examined. The ONS explicitly states that decomposition analysis is descriptive and cannot imply causal relationships. Put simply: whilst the data shows *that* health reporting improved, it cannot definitively explain *why* this improvement occurred.

Health-related policy implications are significant. The data suggests that public health interventions, NHS care, and social support for older adults may be having measurable effects on how people experience their health across different age groups. However, researchers caution that the improvement in self-reported health does not necessarily indicate improved objective health status. Perception and reporting of health can shift for various reasons beyond actual physical or mental wellbeing.

For the UK workforce and economy, the findings carry tangible implications. An ageing population reporting better health could mean more people remaining in work longer, potentially addressing labour shortages in sectors facing retention challenges. However, policy makers will need to ensure that improvements in health reporting translate into sustained capacity for work, as well as access to appropriate healthcare and support services.

The full decomposition analysis has been released as an accessible dataset by the ONS, allowing researchers, policymakers, and analysts to examine the data across different regions, age groups, and demographic characteristics. This transparency enables evidence-based policy discussions about health inequalities and population wellbeing across England and Wales.

Key Takeaways

• Good health reporting in England increased by 1.0 percentage point between Census 2011 and 2021, despite population ageing which would normally reduce such figures
• The relative difference in health reporting between young and older adults narrowed significantly, suggesting genuine improvements in how older age groups experience health
• Improvements were relatively consistent across different demographic groups, with very little change in health patterns by sex, ethnicity, or deprivation level
• The analysis provides detailed individual-level data but cannot identify causal factors or explain underlying reasons for health improvements

What This Means for Kent Residents

For households across Kent, these findings suggest that investments in health services and social care may be supporting better health outcomes as people age. With Kent having a particularly ageing population and significant numbers of retirees, the narrowing health gap between younger and older adults could have practical implications for local social care services, NHS provision across Kent and Medway, and workforce planning for care sectors. However, residents should understand that self-reported health improvements do not guarantee adequate access to services in areas facing healthcare resource constraints. The data also suggests that relative deprivation—a factor particularly relevant in parts of Kent experiencing economic change—has not become a greater driver of health inequality over the decade, though it remains a consideration for local health policy.