People

Norfolk generally has an older population that is projected to increase at a greater rate than the rest of England. Almost all of the population increase over the last five years has been in those aged 65 and over. Over the next ten years the population is expected to increase by 50,700^[1] with most of the increase in the 65 and over age bands. Across Norfolk the average life expectancy is approximately 80 years for men and 84 years for women.^[2] The average number of years a man or a woman can expect to live in good health is about 63.^[3] Deprivation and poverty influence the health and wellbeing of the population. The life expectancy gap between the most deprived areas of Norfolk and the least deprived areas is 7.0 years for men^[4] and 4.5 years for women.^[5]

1. www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationprojections/bulletins/subnationalpopulationprojectionsforengland/2016based
2. www.norfolkinsight.org.uk/health-and-social-care/report/view/8adfe19449304d2884fa0d2161bca496/E10000020
3. fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/life%20expectancy#page/3/gid/1/pat/6/par/E12000006/ati/102/are/E10000020/iid/90362/age/1/sex/2
4. fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/life%20expectancy#page/3/gid/1/pat/6/par/E12000006/ati/102/are/E10000020/iid/92901/age/1/sex/1
5. fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/life%20expectancy#page/3/gid/1/pat/6/par/E12000006/ati/102/are/E10000020/iid/92901/age/1/sex/2

Norfolk generally has an older population that is projected to increase at a greater rate than the rest of England. Almost all of the population increase over the last 5 years has been in those aged 65 and over. Over the next ten years the population is expected to increase by 50,700 with most increase in the 65 and over age bands.^[6]

Across Norfolk the average life expectancy is about 80 years for men and about 84 years for women.^[7] The average number of years a man or a woman can expect to live in good health is about 63.^[8,9] For those who were 65 years old the life expectancy is estimated to be just over a further 19 years for males^[10] and almost 22 years for females.^[11] South Norfolk has the highest life expectancy with Great Yarmouth the lowest.

Deprivation and poverty influence the health and wellbeing of the population. The life expectancy gap between the most deprived areas of Norfolk and the least deprived areas is 7.0 years for men^[12] and 4.5 years for women.^[13] Along with deprivation other influences on life expectancy include socio-economic factors (income, education, housing), gender, the environment (air pollution, access to green space, where we live) as well as health lifestyle behaviours (smoking, alcohol, nutrition, physical activity, stress).

Norfolk’s ethnic make-up is characterised as predominantly White British, Norwich district has the highest level of other ethnicities.^[14]

According to figures published by the Office for National Statistics in 2015-16 the inflow of international migration in Norfolk was just under 6,300 and the outflow just over 2,650. Migration from within the UK was just over 27,400 and outflow just over 22,500.^[15]

Estimates of populations of LGB vary, the latest Sexual identity, UK 2016 release by the Office for National Statistics give the figure of 2.0%^[16] with recent estimates from the Lesbian and Gay Foundation at 5-7%.^[17] LGBT people are more likely to live alone with fewer support networks and are less likely to have routine screening tests than heterosexuals. 1 in 4 smoke cigarettes, gay men are 4 times more likely to attempt suicide and 1 in 5 lesbians and bisexual women have deliberately self-harmed nationally.

Although the number of people in Norfolk identifying as Christian has fallen over the last decade, Christianity remains the main faith in the county. Numbers of Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims have increased in the last decade, as have those with no religion.^[18,19]

Norfolk has 47 libraries and offers a range of online services as well as mobile libraries and school library services.^[20] Norfolk Record Office and Heritage Centre provide archives of information relating to the county and it’s History. There are 12 museums across Norfolk including Norwich Castle, Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse and Strangers Hall.^[21] Norfolk has various Theatres and music venues and hosts the Norfolk and Norwich Festival each year in May with events across the county in Classical Music, Outdoor, Performance and Visual Arts.^[22]