Pensioner numbers double during Queen's 60 year reign

Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions also showed people, on average, are living nearly a decade longer. There are 5.6 million more pensioners today than in 1952, rising from 6.8 million to 12.4 million. And there are about 13,120 more centenarians, an increase on 300 in 1952. The Queen has sent about 110,000 telegrams and messages to centenarians during her reign. Pensions minister Steve Webb said: "In the past 60 years we have seen man land on the moon, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the rise of the Internet and digital technology. Pensioners now make up 20% of the ...