Key points from article :
New projections from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest that reaching the age of 100 will become increasingly common in the coming decades. Nearly one in five girls born in 2030 are expected to live to 100, rising to almost one in four for those born in 2047. For boys, the chances are lower but still significant, with over one in eight born in 2030 and about one in six by 2047 projected to become centenarians.
These estimates are based on historical death trends and assume ongoing improvements in elderly mortality. The ONS emphasises that these are projections rather than precise forecasts, designed to help policymakers prepare for an ageing population. The data also suggests a general rise in life expectancy: girls born in 2023 can expect to live to 90 on average, and boys to 86.7, with these figures increasing to 92.2 and 89.3 by 2047.
The gap between male and female life expectancy has been narrowing over the decades, shrinking from 4.4 years in 1981 to 3.4 years in 2023, and is expected to drop to 2.5 years by 2072. Experts attribute this trend to improvements in lifestyle factors such as lower smoking rates, better working conditions, and advances in healthcare, particularly in preventing and treating heart disease. These findings highlight the importance of planning for a future where longer lifespans become the norm.
