Older People - Data
What you told us
What the data tells us
The Midlothian population is growing and the largest percentage increase is predicted to be in those aged 75 and over.
- 19% of the population in Midlothian are aged 65 and over (Census, 2022).
- The 75 and over age group in Midlothian is projected to increase by 40.9% (Between 2018 and 2028, National Records Scotland, 2022).
- National data shows most older people feel socially connected. They are, however, more likely to live alone, to be widowed and to be offline, increasing their risk of loneliness.
- 24% of people aged 60 and over volunteer. This is a similar rate to Scotland.
Dementia
Dementia is a syndrome associated with an ongoing decline of the brain and its abilities. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type, other types include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia.
- 917 people in Midlothian have Dementia (2025 General Practice)
- 2,847 people in Midlothian could have dementia by 2043 (based on 2018 population projections from the National Records of Scotland and the dementia prevalence rate averages from Alzheimer’s Scotland)
- Sex - Dementia is slightly more common in women than in men which is to be expected with women living on average longer than men.
- Age - Dementia is more common in older age groups
- Inequalities - many of the risk factors for dementia are associated with socio-economic disparities.
- Disability - there is a higher rate of Dementia diagnosis in the learning disability community and onset tends to happen at a younger age.
- Race - this does not affect prevalence rates for most types of dementia except for early on set (presenting before 65 years) and vascular dementia which have been found to be more prevalent in the black and ethnic minority community.
Page Updated March 2026