1.85m veterans living in England and Wales, Census reveals

New details have emerged about the make-up of the veteran population in England and Wales.

The 2021 Census shows that in England and Wales there were a total 1.85 million veterans.

The data released includes population age, where people were born, religion, ethnic group, legal partnership status and general health.

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Here are the key findings:

• 13.6% (235,430) were women (13.8% in Wales and 13.5% in England) and 86.4% (1,601,705) were men (86.2% in Wales and 86.5% in England).

• Almost one third (31.8% or 589,640) of veterans were aged 80 years and over, reflecting National Service policy (1939 to 1960) inclusive of War Service (to 1948).

• Most UK armed forces veterans living in England and Wales were born in the UK (94.2% or 1,744,985), 2.1% were born in other Commonwealth nations (39,420) and the proportions born in Nepal and Ireland were similar (0.6% and 0.5% or 10,240 and 9,480 respectively).

• Those who had previously served in the UK armed forces were more likely to identify their ethnicity within the high-level “White” category (96.4% or 1,785,640) than non-veterans (83.1% or 38,827,845); differences remained even after accounting for the older age distribution of veterans.

• Those who had only served in the reserve forces were younger and more likely to be women than the rest of the veteran population, 64.1% were aged under 65 years and 24.6% were women, this may reflect the relative ease with which volunteer reserves are able to leave service and historical roles of women serving in the UK armed forces.

Emily Knipe from the Office for National Statistics said that the reason the question was asked for the first time on the census was to gain a better understanding of the "size and shape of the veteran population in England and Wales".

This data can then help inform "the Armed Forces Covenant and any organisation or service provider that needs to provide care assistance or services to the armed forces community" and "tailor" their services to the "right group of veterans".