Are Children Included in Population Statistics?

[Kingy]

When we say that Britain has approximately 60 million people, does that include children?

If so, what percentage of the population do they make up?

[Oneeyedvic]

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id =185

The population of the United Kingdom on Census Day 2001 was 58,789,194 it has been revealed by the Registrars General for England and Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.

The populations of individual countries were: England 49,138,831 (83.6 per cent of the total population); Scotland 5,062,011 (8.6 per cent); Wales 2,903,085 (4.9 per cent); Northern Ireland 1,685,267 (2.9 per cent).

The UK population has grown by 17 per cent overall since 1951, but compared with many other developed countries over the same period, the UK population is growing more slowly. It is smaller than the average growth for EU Europe (23 per cent) and considerably smaller than some countries - for example USA 80 per cent; and Australia 133 per cent.

For the first time, people 60 and over form a larger part of the population than children under 16 - 21 per cent compared to 20 per cent. There has also been a big increase in the number of people aged 85 and over - now over 1.1 million, or 1.9 per cent of the population.


So 20% of thepopulation is under 16.

[factor-fiction]

Yes it includes all the population. It includes all living people . It excludes unborn children and the deceased.

[Kingy]

Thanks for your responses.

The reason I ask is because I have had a few discussions at work concerning different topics when people have stated that, "40% of the population go to church"; or "5% of the population have experienced recreational drugs".

I can even remember discussions about the percentage of the population that is in prison. Most recently there was mention of people with mental health issues. (We have great discussions at work!)

These last two concerns were pretty much dealing with adults and not children.

It's just recently dawned on me that some of the discussions were skewed in our assumption that the supposed percentages simply included adults only.

I think the media probably often make the same mistake.

Sorry, I can't think of any precise examplesof media bias just now !!

[misundrstood]

the populace can be googled for the most up to date statistics and as oneeyedvic has included all the principalities this is a very good difinative of the population that includes children

[jno]

in theory when they say 40% of the population it should mean exactly that. But yes, I've seen statistics in print that turn out to be nonsense. Not necessarily media bias - more probably innumerate reporters.

[k9 fott]

no