Men close gap with women as more live until 100

There are five times more 100-year-olds in Britain than 31 years ago, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The rise, from 2,500 in 1980 to 12,640, is attributed to increased survival rates between the ages of 80 and 100, due to improved medical treatment, housing, living standards and nutrition.

The ratio of women and men still alive at 100 rose from nine women to every man in 2000 to five women to one man today.

The figures also show the median age of the UK population, at which half of Britons are younger and half older, has risen to 39.7 in 2010 from 35 in 1985. The area with the UK's highest median age in 2010 was in West Somerset at 52.7, followed by North Norfolk at 51.5. All 10 areas with the highest percentages of people aged 65 and over were located on the east or south coast.

University cities of Oxford, Manchester and Cambridge had the lowest median ages in 2010, at 29.2, 29.4 and 29.5, respectively.