Over 40,000 people in Newham will live to see their 100th birthday, according to latest official figures.
The data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) projects that 15,000 (one in four) of the borough’s 60,000 children aged under 16 should expect to receive a telegram from the king or queen when they reach three figures.
Around a further 24,000 of the borough’s 160,000-plus working age population should reach the milestone, with a further 2,000 of residents currently over 65 breaking becoming centenarians.
On a national level, the ONS figures revealed that 11m people alive today are expected to live to be 100.
Minister for Pensions, Steve Webb, said: “These figures really highlight how life expectancy in this country is changing - millions of people will be spending over a third of their lives in retirement.
“That’s why we’re reforming the state pension system - we want to make it fair and sustainable for future generations and help millions save into a workplace pension - many for the first time.”
The government has just announced a radical shake-up aimed at providing a decent State Pension in the future.
The proposals include raising the State Pension age for men and women to 66 by 2020.
For more information, visit www.dwp.gov.uk
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