Number of centenarians in the UK is on the increase

The average life expectancy in the UK is constantly on the increase, and now the number of centenarians - those aged 100 and over - is now at a record high.

According to data by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there are 14,570 people aged 100 or over in the UK, and the number of centenarians has gone up four times over the last two decades, and in the last ten years the number of centenarians has risen by 65 per cent. Also, the number of people aged 105 or over is 850, up from 130 in 1985.

In response to the data findings, minister for pensions Richard Harrington, said: "It is fantastic news that more people are living longer lives."

The rise in centenarians is in line with the high life expectancy in the UK. The average life expectancy in the UK is at 81.5 years - 79 for males and 82 for females - and women tend to live longer than men. According to the ONS, for every 100 men aged 90 and over there were 240 women.

There are a certain factors that are attributed to a longer lifespan and the increase in the ageing population.

People are living longer because of a better quality of life and better standards of healthcare.

More importantly, the healthier the lifestyle the longer a person is expected to live. After all, living well is the key to longevity. In order to ensure this, an individual should adopt healthy habits, including eating meals full of nutrients at least three times a day, engaging in physical activity, taking care of your mental wellbeing, reducing the amount of sugar and alcohol in your diet and not smoking.

Being healthier means that an individual is less likely to suffer with obesity, and this means that they are less likely to suffer with serious diseases and conditions later on in life, such as stroke, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and cancer. Most importantly, living a healthier lifestyle reduces the risk of early death, and keeps you living for as long as possible.

The life expectancy in the UK and the number of people living past the age of 100 is set to continue to rise over the next decade or so, meaning that the ageing population shall continue to grow, and living a better lifestyle helps many to live longer lives.