Ageing population in the UK

The dot map uses uniform point symbols to represent the value and geographic character of the population. We selected 500 people per dot to create a pattern to the population distribution and splitted the population in two groups,

• aged less than 65, cyan dots,

• and 65 and over, magenta dots,

using the Office for National Statistics estimates of the population for the UK - Mid 2019 alphanumeric data and the local authority districts digital boundaries of the Ordnance Survey.

To help us to place the dots inside the local administrative areas we used the built-up digital areas of Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales.

The dots were placed randomly inside the built-up areas of each local authority district, so we could have a better visual impression of relative density of the population, as it is where people live, rather than have dots randomly distributed in the entire local authority district.

The map allows the user to visually compare the two categories, aged less than 65 and the population 65 and over, or to see them individually by turning on or off each group of the population. The user also can see the total numbers and percentages of the population when hovering over a local authority district.

The choropleth map is a thematic map that represents the percentages of eldery population (aged 65 and over) by the local authority, grouped into 4 classes, where the darker colors represent the highest percentages and the lighter colors the lowest percentages. The user can also see the total numbers of population and the percentage of the eldery population when hovering over a local authority district.

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