|
|
|
|
World Aging
|
Region
|
Year
|
65+
|
75+
|
80+
|
|
Europe (excludes former USSR)
|
1990
|
13.7
|
6.1
|
3.2
|
|
2010
|
17.5
|
8.4
|
4.9
|
|
2025
|
22.4
|
10.8
|
6.4
|
|
North America
|
1990
|
12.6
|
5.3
|
2.8
|
|
2010
|
14.0
|
6.5
|
4.0
|
|
2025
|
20.1
|
8.5
|
4.6
|
|
Oceania
|
1990
|
9.3
|
3.6
|
1.8
|
|
2010
|
11.0
|
4.8
|
2.8
|
|
2025
|
15.0
|
6.6
|
3.6
|
|
Asia (excludes former USSR)
|
1990
|
4.8
|
1.5
|
0.6
|
|
2010
|
6.8
|
2.5
|
1.2
|
|
2025
|
10.0
|
3.6
|
1.8
|
|
Latin America / Carribean
|
1990
|
4.6
|
1.6
|
0.8
|
|
2010
|
6.4
|
2.4
|
1.2
|
|
2025
|
9.4
|
3.6
|
1.8
|
|
Near East/North Africa
|
1990
|
3.8
|
1.2
|
0.5
|
|
2010
|
4.6
|
1.6
|
0.8
|
|
2025
|
6.4
|
2.2
|
1.1
|
|
Sub-Saharan African
|
1990
|
2.7
|
0.7
|
0.3
|
|
2010
|
2.9
|
0.8
|
0.3
|
|
2025
|
3.4
|
1.0
|
0.4
|
Table 1 (Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census)
Most of us probably are not aware of it, but the population of the world is undergoing an historic change. The older population is growing at a dramatic rate and the balance of the world’s young and old is shifting. In many developed countries of Europe, the speed of population growth occurred gradually, taking 50-100 years for the percent of the population aged 65 and over to double from 7% to 14%. However, in most developing countries of the world the same population increase will take place in fewer than 30 years. In approximately 30 years, there will be 850 million elderly worldwide.
Here are some facts to keep in mind:
- In most countries of the world there are declining fertility rates (fewer births) and people are living longer (increased life expectancy). This means that a country’s "population age structure" will shift (be weighted) towards the older age population.
- Most of the growth in the numbers of elderly is taking place in developing countries.
- In developing countries the speed with which the elderly population is growing is very fast compared to the same changes in developed/industrialized countries. This contrast is particularly evident if you compare East Asia and Western Europe.
- Europe is the oldest world region, with the highest proportion of population aged 65 and older, and Africa is the youngest. Sweden is considered to be the oldest country with 18% of its population aged 65+.
Here are some questions to think about:
- What are the social and health changes that have led to changes in fertility around the world?
- What are the scientific and medical contributions that have resulted in increased life expectancy?
- You might think about your own family. How many children did your great-grandparents have? How many children did your grandparents have? How many children are in your family? To what age did your great-grandparents live? Your grandparents (who may be still living)?
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