A SLIGHT increase in the number of households living in the region has been predicted, despite a projected population drop.
New forecasts released by the National Records of Scotland project a 0.4 per cent increase in the number of households living in Dumfries and Galloway by 2028.
Contrasting with reports last week that the region’s population is set to drop by 3.1 per cent by the end of the decade, the data is indicative of an ageing population and a move toward smaller and single-person households.
By 2028, households made up of two or more adults and one or more children – typically families – are projected to drop by eight per cent, and households of three or more adults to drop by 11 per cent. Meanwhile, a five per cent increase in females living alone, and four per cent for males, is predicted across all age groups.
Projections for further into the future forecast 109 per cent more females aged 90 and above living alone, and 110 per cent for males, by 2043.
Across Scotland, a similar picture is painted where the number of households is set to grow faster than the population. Around 140,000 men aged 65 or over are likely to be living alone by 2028 – nearly a quarter more than in 2018 and at a more rapid rate of growth than women in the same age group.
Sandy Taylor, head of household statistics at NRS, said: “Scotland’s population is ageing – the number of people aged 65 and over is significantly increasing. This is driving a shift towards a larger number of both smaller and older households, with those of someone aged 85 or over likely to increase by just over 20 per cent in the period to 2028.”
