The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has reported a record high of 13,924 centenarians living in England and Wales in 2021. There were 11,288 female and 2,636 males, according to official 2021 census data published in September 2023.

In 1921, life expectancy was about 68 years for women and 61 years for men, but it now stands closer to 91 and 88 years respectively.

In the UK, there are 31 centenarians for every 100,000 people, according to ONS analysis of UN population data. By comparison, there are 106 per 100,000 in Japan (considered the oldest nation in the world), 42 in France and 30 in Italy.

In Conwy County almost 28% of the population is aged 65 and over compared to about 19% across the UK. The greatest concentrations of older people are living along the coast in Abergele, Towyn, Llanddulas, Rhos on Sea, Llandudno’s Craig-y-Don, Gogarth and Penrhyn wards, and Deganwy.

The high proportion of older people within Conwy County leads to the proportions of children (aged 0-15) and residents of working age (aged 16-65) being significantly below Wales and UK averages.

While the number of centenarians has more than doubled since 1991, separate official figures published last month showed the number of births in England and Wales had dropped to the lowest in two decades, contributing to a rapidly ageing population.