Britain 's dramatically ageing population means that within two decades one in 10 people will be over the age of 85 in some areas , a new study showed today . At the same time , the proportion of people who are under 16 is also projected to fall , putting added pressure on the state to support growing numbers of elderly people . Campaigners seized on the report to call for urgent action to improve care for the elderly and support them to stay in work for longer . Scroll down for interactive map . A new interactive map from the Office for National Statistics reveals how in some areas almost 10 per cent of people will be over 85 by 2037 . The Office for National Statistics today released an interactive map showing how populations will age in different parts of the country . By 2037 , almost 10 per cent of people in West Dorset , North Norfolk , East Devon and East Dorset will be over 85 . At the same time , the proportion of children under the age of 16 in these areas will fall below 14 per cent . Nationwide , at present 2.5 per cent of people are over 85 , but by 2037 this is forecast to double to 5 per cent . Among under-16s the figure will fall from almost 19 per cent to 17.7 per cent . The proportion of people aged 85 in the UK as a whole will double from 2.5 per cent now to 5 per cent within 20 years , while the proportion of under-16s is falling . Between 1992 and 2037 , average age in the UK will rise from 36 years to 42.8 years . In Rother , in East Sussex , the average age is forecast to hit 57.5 years by 2037 , the highest in the country . By contrast , in Oxford the average by 2037 will be 31.5 years . Janet Morrison , chief executive of the charity Independent Age , said : 'This surge in longevity should be celebrated and is testament to the huge strides we have made , particularly in medical care over the last half century . 'But to prepare for it , as a society we need to take measures such as continuing to improve our health and social care systems , helping older people stay in the workplace for longer and tackling the risks of loneliness and isolation in older age . 'Otherwise we run the risk of squandering the rich potential of our ageing society . ' Minister for Pensions Steve Webb said : 'These figures really bring home how important it is to plan ahead for retirement . Many millions of us will be spending around a third of our lives or more in retirement in the future . 'Our reforms will ensure the state pension will remain strong for future generations and I am proud we have protected today 's pensioners with the Triple Lock meaning the basic State Pension is at the highest percentage of earnings since 1992 . '
By 2020 , almost 10 per cent of people in West Dorset , North Norfolk , East Devon and East Dorset will be over 85 . At the same time , the proportion of people under the age of 85 in these areas will fall below 14 per cent , study shows . Between 1992 and 2037 , the median average age across the whole of the UK will range from 35 years to 42.8 years . By 2020 in Rother , in west Sussex , the average age will 57.5 years by 2037 but in Oxford will be only 31.5 years .