One is six people in England and Wales – or 16% of the population – are aged 65 or older, according to the latest figures released from the 2011 Census.

The figures, released today by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), showed one in ten people are carers – with more than a third of them giving 20 hours or more a week.

There has been an increase in population in England and Wales of 7% since the previous Census in 2001. More than half the increase (55%) was due to migration.

ONS director of Census, Guy Goodwin, said: ‘These statistics paint a picture of society and help us all plan for the future using accurate information at a local level.

‘This is just the tip of the iceberg of census statistics. Further rich layers of vital information will be revealed as we publish more detailed data for very local levels over the coming months.'

For full details of the Census see http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_290685.pdf

Other figures released today show: