Population

Norfolk’s population is projected to increase by approximately 11% between 2025 and 2045, it is projected to be the 8th largest (non-metropolitan) local authority in England, a position it currently holds. This is a projected population increase of over 109,000 spread over twenty years, with almost 78,000 of this increase in the population being among the over 65s. Norfolk has a population that is projected to grow older over time with the proportion of residents aged 65 years or older rising from 25% to almost 30% between 2025 and 2045.^[1] North Norfolk is projected to have the oldest population (as measured by the old age dependency ratio) of all local authority districts in both 2025 and 2045.^[2]

The local healthcare footprint includes Waveney, and the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System (ICS) area had a population of around 1,042,300 in 2022 compared around 925,700 in Norfolk. Although Norfolk and Waveney has a larger population than the county of Norfolk, the inclusion of Waveney has little impact on key demographic statistics such as age structure and growth, for example, in 2025 26% of the ICS population are aged 65 or older which will rise to around 30% in 2045. In 2022 Norfolk and Waveney had the 4th highest proportion of people aged 65 or older among ICSs in England, a position it is projected to retain in 2045.^[3]

Across Norfolk the average life expectancy in 2023 was approximately 80 years for men^[4] and around 84 years for women.^[5] In 2021-23 the average number of years a man or a woman could expect to live in good health in Norfolk is about 62.5 years for men^[6] and 62.9 years for women.^[7] Deprivation and poverty influence the health and wellbeing of the population. In 2021-23 the life expectancy gap between the most deprived areas of Norfolk and the least deprived areas is 7.5 years for men^[8] and 4.9 years for women.^[9]

Below detailed population overviews for (i) Norfolk & Waveney and (ii) the county of Norfolk can be downloaded. These overviews provide data on topics including the age distribution, population change over time, ethnicity, disability and vulnerable populations, births and deaths in the relevant area.

Below detailed population overviews for each of the seven districts in Norfolk can be downloaded. These overviews provide data on topics including the age distribution, population change over time, ethnicity, disability and vulnerable populations, births and deaths in the relevant area.

Below detailed population overviews for the five Place Boards that cover Norfolk & Waveney can be downloaded. These overviews provide data on topics including the age distribution, population change over time, ethnicity, disability and vulnerable populations, births and deaths in the relevant area.

Across Norfolk the average life expectancy in 2023 was approximately 80 years for men^[10] and around 84 years for women.^[11] In 2021-23 the average number of years a man or a woman could expect to live in good health in Norfolk is about 62.5 years for men^[12] and 62.9 years for women.^[13] Deprivation and poverty influence the health and wellbeing of the population. In 2021-23 the life expectancy gap between the most deprived areas of Norfolk and the least deprived areas is 7.5 years for men^[14] and 4.9 years for women.^[15]