World War continues to have an impact on the British population, almost 100 years after it ended.

Over the past two years official population figures have shown a rise in the number of people over the age of 90. This is linked to the spike in births immediately following the 1914-1918 war.

The Daily Telegraph reports that, according to the latest population estimates from the Office for National Statistics, the number of people over 90 across the UK has passed half a million for the first time. Over 90s are now by far the fastest growing section of the British population apart from centenarians

The number of people over 90 has increased by a third in a decade, but by 14 per cent in the last two years alone – something demographics experts said could be directly attributed to the aftermath World War I.

Britain experienced a sudden spike in the birth rate after millions of soldiers returned from the front and married their sweethearts.

The number of births in England and Wales duly rose by 45 per cent between 1918 and 1920.

Such a pattern can still be seen. There were 38 per cent more 92-year-olds in England and Wales in 2012 than there were two years earlier, reflecting the difference in the numbers of people born in 1920 and 1918.

To read the original story, click here.