THE number of people after 85 and over living in Northern Ireland has increased by a third over the last decade.
This population, sometimes referred to as the oldest old, has grown more than five times faster than the rest of the population, according to statistics published by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA).
The statistics reveal there were 274 centenarians living in Northern Ireland - the equivalent to one centenarian for every 10,000 people.
By June 2017, the population aged 85 and over living was estimated to be 37,200 - 700 more than the year before and 9,200 more than 2007.
The faster growth is driven by historical improvements in longevity.
Last year, the oldest old made up two per cent of Northern Ireland's population - the lowest percentage of the four UK countries.
However, the growth rate over the last decade has been significantly higher than in Britain where it is 25 per cent.
Women accounted for two thirds of those aged 85 and over and the proportion of men in this age group continues to rise.
A NISRA statistician said "over the decade (2007-17), this population sub-group has grown over five times faster than the overall Northern Ireland population".
Meanwhile, growth in life expectancy in the UK has come to a halt - and even decreased in some areas - according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.
Life expectancy remains lower than in many other comparable countries internationally, the ONS also found.
A girl born between 2015 and 2017 is expected to live until 82.9 years old - no change on the previous figure for 2014-16, according to the
The figure for baby boys born in 2015-17 is also unchanged, at 79.2 years.
Life expectancy for men in Northern Ireland and both men and women in Scotland and Wales has declined by 0.1 years.
However, women in Northern Ireland and both women and men in England have unchanged life expectancy at birth.
The figures for Northern Ireland are 78.4 years for males and 82.3 for females.
