The number people 60+ globally is expected almost to triple, increasing from 739 million in 2009 to 2 billion by 2050, making this the fastest growing segment of population according to the ‘just released’ revision of the official United Nations population estimates and projections. DOWNLOAD RELEASE.
According to the release; “……….. the implications of population ageing cannot be dismissed. In the more developed regions, the population aged 60 or over is increasing at the fastest pace ever (growing at 1.9 per cent annually) and is expected to increase by more than 50 per cent over the next four decades, rising from 264 million in 2009 to 416 million in 2050. Compared with the more developed world, the population of the less developed regions is ageing rapidly. Over the next two decades, the population aged 60 or over in the developing world is projected to increase at rates far surpassing 3 per cent per year and its numbers are expected to rise from 475 million in 2009 to 1.6 billion in 2050.
The AARP summarised some key findings related to ageing.
- Slow population growth brought about by reductions in fertility leads to population ageing. In the more developed regions, the 60+ population will rise from 22% now to 33% in 2050. In most developed countries, the number of older persons has already surpassed the number of children (15-). By 2050 the number of older persons in developed countries will be more than twice the number of children.
- Population ageing is less advanced in developing countries. but many of them will enter a period of rapid population ageing
Globally, the number of persons aged 60 or over is expected almost to triple, increasing from 739 million in 2009 to 2 billion by 2050 - In ageing populations, the numbers of persons with older ages grow faster the higher the age range considered
Although the population of all countries is expected to age over the foreseeable future, the population will remain relatively young in countries where fertility is still high - In sharp contrast, the populations of 45 countries or areas are expected to decrease between 2010 and 2050.
