About Dispensing Practice » A decade of growth for rural populations
By Ailsa Colquhoun
The rural population has increased by 46,000 while the urban population has declined by 68,000 during 2011-12, continuing a migratory trend seen in England during the past 10 years, 2014 figures from the Department of Food, Environment and Rural Affairs show.
In its Statistical Digest of Rural England 2014, DEFRA notes that England's most rural areas (the so-called Rural-80 areas) saw a net inward migration of 23,000 people in 2011/12. Less rural areas (the Rural-50 areas) saw net internal migration of 22,900.
The greatest rate of population increase was in rural town and fringe areas: 8.8% of the population now live in rural towns, 5.5% in rural villages and 3.3% in rural hamlets.
A relatively elderly population is also a feature of rural populations, in urban areas 15% of people are over 65 and in rural areas it is 21%. Over 50% of the population in rural areas is aged 45 and above, compared with around 40% in urban areas.
Overall health outcomes remain more favourable in rural areas than urban areas and average life expectancy is highest in the most rural areas (Rural-80 areas).
On average, males born in Rural-80 areas in 2010-12 are expected to live two years longer than males born in major urban areas and on average Rural 80 females will live one and a half years longer than females born in large urban areas.
Life expectancy has increased in all areas across England. In 2010-12 life expectancy for men was 79.1 years and 83.0 years for women. Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common cause of premature death in England, followed by cancer and stroke.
