GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S population is growing and getting older according to the 2011 Census.


The number of people living in the county has gone up by 32,300 in the last decade to 597,000 – an increase of 5.7 per cent from 2001, the date of the last Census.


This growth rate is lower than the national average for England and Wales, which was 7.8 per cent.


However, the county is reportedly getting older with the proportion of people aged over 65 now accounting for 18.6 per cent of Gloucestershire’s population compared to 17.4 per cent in 2001.


This percentage is higher than the national figure where 16.4 per cent of the population is over 65.


The Census, which is a count of the population that takes place every 10 years, also showed the total number of households in Gloucestershire had increased by 9.5 per cent in the past 10 years to  254,600.


The National Census was carried out on March, 27 2011, when every household was encouraged to complete either a paper or online questionnaire.


The information gathered through the Census is used to help plan, fund and deliver services like housing, education, healthcare and transport.


Cllr Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: "The data obtained from the last Census is invaluable to help us to plan for services in the future.


"We already knew that our older population was increasing and this is reflected in the extra resources we are putting into services for the elderly."