The table below shows the rate of travellers from the UK to Spain across different age groups between 1981 and 2015.
Overall, the age profile of British tourists changed considerably over the period. While people aged 25-35 made up the largest group in 1981, their share declined sharply by 2015. In contrast, the proportion of older visitors 55 and over and younger adults increased noticeably.
According to the table, in 1981, half of all visitors (50%) were aged 25-35, making this by far the dominant group. This was followed by those aged 35-45 at 22%, while people aged 55+ accounted for 16%. Younger visitors were relatively uncommon, with only 10% aged 0-15 and a mere 4% in the 16-24 group.
Looking at the graph, we can notice that by 2015, however, the pattern had shifted. The rate of visitors aged 25-35 fell dramatically to 32%, although it remained the largest category. Meanwhile, the share of tourists aged 55 and above rose significantly to 25%, becoming the second-largest group. The percentage of 16-24 year olds increased almost fourfold to 15%, while the 0-15 and 35-45 groups both accounted for 12% each.