DOCSLIB.ORG

POPULATION AGEING the Timebomb That Isn't?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
POPULATION AGEING the Timebomb That Isn't? ANALYSIS Ж News: An older, sicker US will need more specialists, study says (BMJ 2013;347:f6711) Ж Analysis: Japan’s answer to the economic demands of an ageing population (BMJ 2012;345:e6632) Ж News: Ageing population is not a drain on economy or NHS, says report (BMJ 2012;344:e2934) Ж Editorial: How to meet the challenge of ageing populations (BMJ 2011;342:d3815) POPULATION AGEING The timebomb that isn’t? Jeroen Spijker and John MacInnes argue that current measures of population ageing are misleading and that the numbers of dependent older people in the UK and other countries have actually been falling in recent years opulation ageing is a concern in all tive to those who pay for them. Although the Contribution of age group developed countries. For the first phased raising of the state pension age (from ≥ years - years - years time, there are now more people over 65 for men and 60 for women) to 68 for both . the age of 65 in the United Kingdom sexes, which will keep 3.5 million people in . than there are children under 15 the working age, will initially cause the ratio . Pyears.1 Over the past century, the proportion to decline from today’s 31% in England and . of over 65s has grown from about one in 20 to Wales, by 2035 it will have risen to 37%. by decade in years . around one in six. Although declining birth However, the old age dependency ratio is rates and infant mortality formed the basis for a poor measure of the burden of an ageing . Increase in life expectancy this growth from the end of the 19th century population. It counts neither the number of s s s s s s until the second world war, since the 1970s dependent older people nor the number who Decade increasing life expectancy has been an addi‑ sustain them. It merely takes a cut‑off point tional driving force (fig 1). This population (the state pension age) and assigns adults to Fig 1 | Change in life expectancy (in years) in ageing has worried policy makers because for the two sides of the ratio accordingly. This England and Wales within each decade broken every worker paying tax and national insur‑ might be a useful rule of thumb if the relative down by age group, 1950-2010 (data from www. ance there are more older citizens, who make size of these two age groups tracked the vol‑ mortality.org). Life expectancy increased by 2.6 years between 2000 and 2010, 0.1 years of which greater demands on social insurance, health, ume of old age dependency, but it does not. came from improved infant and child survival and welfare systems and have increasing mor‑ We propose an alternative measure that gives and, respectively, 0.5 and 2.0 years from lower 2‑4 bidity and disability. a more accurate and very different picture mortality among 5-64 and ≥65 year olds The standard indicator of population ageing and consider the implications of our results is the old age dependency ratio. It takes the for health policy. ulation did not climb above 25 until the start number of people who have reached the state of the last century, since when it has risen to pension age and divides it by the number of Counting dependent older people 40. Life expectancy has also increased across working age (16‑64 years) adults in order to Since the main factor behind the ageing pop‑ this period, so that although the median age estimate the proportion of older people rela‑ ulation is increasing life expectancy, age is of 24 in 1900 carried a life expectancy of 39 a poor measure of its burden. In 1900 mean more years, those at the median age of 40 in KEY MESSAGES life expectancy for a 65 year old woman in 2009 could expect to live a further 42 years. The extent, speed, and effect of population England and Wales was 11 years. Today she In aggregate terms, the population of 2009, ageing have been exaggerated because the could expect to live another 21 years (10 and despite being much older as measured by standard indicator—the old age dependency 18 years respectively for men). We can best cap‑ years lived, was nevertheless younger than ratio—does not take account of falling mortality ture this changing importance of age by realis‑ that of 1900 in terms of years left. This is cru‑ When measured using remaining life expectancy, old age dependency turns out ing that the age of a population comprises two cial, because many behaviours and attitudes to have fallen substantially in the UK and components: the years lived of its members (including those related to health) are more elsewhere over recent decades and is likely to (their ages) and their years left (remaining life strongly linked to remaining life expectancy stabilise in the UK close to its current level expectancies). than to age.6‑8 The capacity of healthcare systems to cope In a period of lengthening lifespans, not The old age dependency ratio defines all with increasing longevity will depend on the only does the average age of the population people above the statutory pension age as changing relationship between morbidity and increase, so too does the remaining life expec‑ dependent, regardless of their economic, remaining life expectancy and, in particular, tancy associated with each age.5 This has social, or medical circumstances. This over‑ the effect of education substantial effects. The median age of the pop‑ looks the fact that rising life expectancy makes 20 BMJ | 16 NOVEMBER 2013 | VOLUME 347 ANALYSIS % of population in age groups with Real elderly Old age % of population aged ≥ remaining life expectancy ≤ years dependency ratio dependency ratio % of population in age groups with UK Old age dependency ratio (%) Italy remaining life expectancy ≤ years Old age dependency ratio adjusted for Germany Old age dependency ratio (%) pension age (%) France Real elderly dependency ratio (%) USA Japan Percentage Ratio (%) Percentage Year Year Year Fig 2 | Proportion of the population aged ≥65, Fig 3 | Old age dependency ratios, proportion of the Fig 4 | Real elderly dependency ratio and old age proportion of the population at ages with population at ages with remaining life expectancy dependency ratios in various countries, remaining life expectancy of ≤15 years, and the old of ≤15 years, and the real elderly dependency ratio, 1950-2010 (data from www.mortality.org and age dependency ratio, England and Wales 1900- England and Wales 1950-2050 http://stats.oecd.org) (data from www.mortality.org and England and Wales censuses (www. 2011 (see appendix on bmj.com for calculations) ons.gov.uk)). See appendix on bmj.com for details of calculations these older people “younger,” healthier, and employed, irrespective of age, for the denomi‑ third over the past four decades (fig 3). Look‑ fitter than their peers in earlier cohorts. Many nator in our calculation. ing into the future, the old age dependency have accumulated substantial assets. Currently ratio will continue to rise, even if we adjust for over one million are still working, mostly part Different picture of ageing the planned changes in the state pension age. time, many with valuable experience or spe‑ According to the standard old age dependency However, the real elderly dependency ratio is cialist knowledge. The spending power of the ratio, for every person aged ≥65 there were 7‑8 set to fall further, stabilise for several years “grey pound” has risen inexorably. Many do adults of working age (15‑64) until about 1910 then gradually increase, although at no point volunteer work vital to the third sector or look (fig 2). The ratio subsequently increased almost through to 2050 will it regain the levels expe‑ after grandchildren. We know that most acute linearly until about 1980, when there were just rienced for most of the last century. Moreover, medical care costs occur in the final months of under four adults of working age for every older our projection is a conservative one, since we life, with the age at which these months occur person. These data underpin the population have held employment rates constant over having little effect.9 10 At least some forms of ageing debate, which typically concludes that time, when they are likely to increase because disability are being postponed to later ages. the increasing burden of elder dependency will of the rise in the state pension age, disincen‑ Good data on population health by age are strain health and social care systems, limit the tives to early retirement, and further progress available only for the last decade, but remain‑ aspirations of universal healthcare, and require on sex equality. It is thus probable that our ratio ing life expectancy data are a robust substitute raising the state pension age to limit the costs will stabilise near its current level. because they provide a more accurate picture to the welfare state. of the extent of ageing. Therefore, following However, if we define the dependent older International comparisons Sanderson and Scherbov and others5 10‑ 14 we population as people with a remaining life Figure 4 shows how our new measure and use a remaining life expectancy of ≤ 15 years expectancy of ≤15 years, the trend is differ‑ the conventional old age dependency ratio as the threshold of dependency in our calcula‑ ent. Figure 2 shows that from the late 1970s compare over the past half century for several tions, rather than a fixed age boundary, and do improvements in old age mortality have countries. While the old age dependency ratio so for each sex separately.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • World Population Ageing 2017 Highlights
    E c o n o m i c & S o c i a l A f a i r s A S o c i a l 2017 World asdf Population United Nations Ageing [highlights] ST/ESA/SER.A/397 Department of Economic and Social Affairs World Population Ageing 2017 Highlights asdf United Nations New York, 2017 The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and national action. The Department works in three main interlinked areas: (i) it compiles, generates and analyses a wide range of economic, social and environmental data and information on which States Members of the United Nations draw to review common problems and take stock of policy options; (ii) it facilitates the negotiations of Member States in many intergovernmental bodies on joint courses of action to address ongoing or emerging global challenges; and (iii) it advises interested Governments on the ways and means of translating policy frameworks devel- oped in United Nations conferences and summits into programmes at the country level and, through techni- cal assistance, helps build national capacities. The Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs provides the international community with timely and accessible population data and analysis of population trends and development outcomes for all countries and areas of the world. To this end, the Division undertakes regular studies of population size and characteristics and of all three components of population change (fertility, mortality and migration). Founded in 1946, the Population Division provides substantive support on population and development issues to the United Nations General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Com- mission on Population and Development.
    [Show full text]
  • Strategy and Action Plan for Healthy Ageing in Europe (2012–2020)
    Regional Committee for Europe Sixty-second session Malta, 10–13 September 2012 Strategy and action plan for healthy ageing in Europe, 2012–2020 Regional Committee for Europe EUR/RC62/10 Rev.1 Sixty-second session + EUR/RC62/Conf.Doc./4 Malta, 10–13 September 2012 10 September 2012 122346 Provisional agenda item 5(c) ORIGINAL: ENGLISH Strategy and action plan for healthy ageing in Europe, 2012–2020 The WHO European Region has a rapidly ageing population. The median age is already the highest in the world, and the proportion of people aged 65 and above is forecast to almost double between 2010 and 2050. The average age of the population and the proportion of people above retirement age are also projected to increase fast, even in countries with life expectancies that are well below the European average. Allowing more people to lead active and healthy lives in later age requires investing in a broad range of policies for healthy ageing, from prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) over the life-course to strengthening health systems, in order to increase older people’s access to affordable, high-quality health and social services. Investing in healthy ageing has become key for the sustainability of health and social policies in Europe. A closing window of opportunity of relative growth of the labour force along with unfavourable economic prospects in many countries in Europe have made the need to step up the implementation of policies for active ageing particularly urgent. This document contains a draft strategy and action plan for healthy ageing in Europe.
    [Show full text]
  • A Decade of TFR Declines Suggests No Relationship Between Development and Sub-Replacement Fertility Rebounds
    DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH VOLUME 44, ARTICLE 5, PAGES 125142 PUBLISHED 20 JANUARY 2021 https://www.demographic-research.org/Volumes/Vol44/5/ DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2021.44.5 Descriptive Finding A decade of TFR declines suggests no relationship between development and sub-replacement fertility rebounds Hampton Gray Gaddy © 2021 Hampton Gray Gaddy. This open-access work is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Germany (CC BY 3.0 DE), which permits use, reproduction, and distribution in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are given credit. See https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/de/legalcode. Contents 1 Introduction 126 2 Methods 129 2.1 HDI–TFR associations 129 2.2 HLI–TFR associations 131 2.3 The role of gender equality 132 3 Results and discussion 132 3.1 HDI–TFR associations 132 3.2 HLI–TFR associations 134 3.3 The role of gender equality 136 4 Conclusion 137 5 Acknowledgements 137 References 138 Demographic Research: Volume 44, Article 5 Descriptive Finding A decade of TFR declines suggests no relationship between development and sub-replacement fertility rebounds Hampton Gray Gaddy1 Abstract BACKGROUND Human development is historically associated with fertility declines. However, demographic paradigms disagree about whether that relationship should hold at very high levels of development. Using data through the late 2000s, Myrskylä, Kohler, and Billari (2009, 2011) found that very high national levels of the Human Development Index (HDI) were associated with increasing total fertility rates (TFRs), at least at high levels of gender parity. OBJECTIVE This paper seeks to update that finding and to introduce the Human Life Indicator (HLI) as a novel measure of development within this debate.
    [Show full text]
  • Ageing in Portugal: Regional Iniquities in Health and Health Care
    Social Science & Medicine 50 (2000) 1025±1036 www.elsevier.com/locate/socscimed Ageing in Portugal: regional iniquities in health and health care Paula Santana* Departamento de Geogra®a, Faculdade de Letras, Universidade de Coimbra, 3030 Coimbra, Portugal Abstract The health of the Portuguese has improved considerably in the last twenty years. Economic and social transformations that have contributed to the progressive amelioration of problems of feeding, sanitation, hygiene, housing and social conditions in general, as well as health services, have had decisive eect on this phenomenon. The spectacular regression of the indicators related to transmitted diseases, infant, perinatal (more than 50% between 1985 and 1994) and maternal mortality, and the mortality of children 1 to 4 yr old, also re¯ects this impact. The positive changes that took place in health indicators were re¯ected in the growth of life expectancy at birth (2.2 yr more for male and 2.3 more for women between 1985 and 1994) in spite of the fact that the dierence in life expectancy in relation to EU countries has grown. Improvement in life expectancy, especially in the older age groups, is not normally associated with signi®cant reductions in morbidity. In fact, increased longevity has become more generally associated with chronic illness or other disabilities requiring more medical services and other forms of personal care. This paper reviews some of the evidence for regional dierences in the health status of elderly people in Portugal and considers how health services have reacted to these dierences. A preliminary study of health status and patterns of utilisation of elderly people was undertaken.
    [Show full text]
  • PEAK INSIGHTS 2021 Asia Demographic Trends: Elders and Millennials
    PEAK INSIGHTS 2021 Asia demographic trends: Elders and Millennials www.peak-re.com About Peak Re Peak Reinsurance Company Limited (“Peak Re”) is a Hong Kong-based reinsurance company authorised by the Insurance Authority of Hong Kong. It is one of the locally established reinsurance companies in Asia Pacific, underwriting both life and non-life reinsurance business. With shareholder equity of USD 1.1 billion as of 31 December 2019, Peak Re enjoys an “A- (stable)” rating by A.M. Best and an “A3 (stable)” rating by Moody’s. The Company ranks among the top 30 global reinsurance groups in terms of net written premiums.* Peak Re strives to provide innovative and forward- looking reinsurance services for customers in the Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa and the Americas. It tailors risk transfer and capital management solutions to best fit clients’ needs. Fosun International Limited (00656.HK) and Prudential Financial, Inc. hold approximately 87% and respectively 13% of Peak Re via Peak Reinsurance Holdings Limited. * Source: S&P Top 40 Global Reinsurance Groups 2020 2 PEAK INSIGHTS 2021 3 Summary Two population cohorts will shape the outlook of Asia in the next decade: the Elders and the Millennials. Lower fertility rate and longer life expectancy are driving population ageing in Asia, with dire implications on issues ranging from economic growth to the provision of old- age social benefits. Meanwhile, the region’s economic growth will derive support from the coming ascension of the Millennials, who will increasingly form the core of Asia’s aspiring middle-class. The pandemic and economic recession in 2020 might have possibly sped up the pace of population ageing and delayed the rise of the Millennials.
    [Show full text]
  • How Today's Generations Are Changing the World TRANSCRIPT
    After the Fact | Event Rebroadcast: How Today’s Generations Are Changing the World Originally aired June 1, 2017 Total runtime: 00:44:17 TRANSCRIPT [Music] Dan Leduc: Two billion—that’s a lot, and you only know the half of it. Welcome to “After the Fact.” For The Pew Charitable Trusts, I’m Dan LeDuc. Every episode of this podcast has a data point, and this one is no different. By the middle of this century, there will be 2 billion elderly people in the world, but as we said, that’s only half the story. There also will be 2 billion young people. That there’s as many of each group is a first for the globe. And together they’ll represent more than 40 percent of the world’s population. It presents profound implications for how we will work and live. There’s lots to discuss on this subject, and not long ago, Pew held a forum in London called “How Today’s Generations Are Changing the World.” Sarah Harper, a professor of gerontology and director of the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing at Oxford University, and Michael Dimock, president of the Washington-based Pew Research Center, joined in a conversation with Pew’s senior vice president for institutional partnerships, Sally O’Brien. And they all took part in a lively question-and-answer session with the audience. Here’s Sally to get us started. Sally O’Brien: Good evening, everybody. My name is Sally O’Brien, and I’m absolutely delighted to welcome you all here on behalf of my colleagues from The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Pew Research Center.
    [Show full text]
  • World Population Ageing 2019
    World Population Ageing 2019 Highlights ST/ESA/SER.A/430 Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division World Population Ageing 2019 Highlights United Nations New York, 2019 The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and national action. The Department works in three main interlinked areas: (i) it compiles, generates and analyses a wide range of economic, social and environmental data and information on which States Members of the United Nations draw to review common problems and take stock of policy options; (ii) it facilitates the negotiations of Member States in many intergovernmental bodies on joint courses of action to address ongoing or emerging global challenges; and (iii) it advises interested Governments on the ways and means of translating policy frameworks developed in United Nations conferences and summits into programmes at the country level and, through technical assistance, helps build national capacities. The Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs provides the international community with timely and accessible population data and analysis of population trends and development outcomes for all countries and areas of the world. To this end, the Division undertakes regular studies of population size and characteristics and of all three components of population change (fertility, mortality and migration). Founded in 1946, the Population Division provides substantive support on population and development issues to the United Nations General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Population and Development. It also leads or participates in various interagency coordination mechanisms of the United Nations system.
    [Show full text]
  • The Effects of Population Ageing on Public Education in Japan : A
    Munich Personal RePEc Archive The effects of population ageing on public education in Japan : A reinterpretation using micro data. Saito, Hitoshi Kobe International University 23 June 2017 Online at https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/79848/ MPRA Paper No. 79848, posted 23 Jun 2017 09:11 UTC The effects of population ageing on public education in Japan: A reinterpretation using micro data* Hitoshi Saito† Abstract: This study explored the effects of population ageing on public education using Japanese micro data. In recent years, Japan has become the fastest-ageing society among the major countries; the ageing of the population is expected to progress rapidly, such that in 2050, the population of those 65 years of age or older will be about 37% of the total population. Owing to such rapid ageing of the population in Japan, it is important to understand whether the elderly have any preferences regarding public education services. Therefore, through the elderly’s reasons for choosing a place of residence, we examined the difference in their preferences for education due to differences in family type and asset conditions. The results of the analysis, like those obtained by Poterba (1998) and Ohtake and Sano (2009), suggest the possibility that elderly people who no longer live with their families do not support education. However as suggested by Hilber and Mayer (2009), elderly people who have more real estate assets can obtain indirect benefits from education; thus, even if they no longer live with their families, such elderly people may support education. JEL Codes: I22, I28, H75 Keywords: Public Education, Population Ageing, Area of Residence, Intergenerational Altruism Version, June 20, 2017 * The author wishes to thank Nobuo Akai, Mitsunari Ishida, Kazuki Onji, Takashi Kuramoto, Hideo Nankai, Katsuyoshi Nakazawa, Hiroshi Nakano, Yukihiro Nishimura, Hirata Kenjiro, Haruaki Hirota, Isao Horiba, Mitsuyoshi Yanagihara, Yasuhiro Yamauchi, and Hideo Yunoue for their useful comments and suggestions.
    [Show full text]
  • The Potential Crisis of Population Ageing and Low Fertility: GEMTEE Dynamic Computable General Equilibrium Used in Population Forecasts and Analysis
    The Potential Crisis of Population Ageing and Low Fertility: GEMTEE Dynamic Computable General Equilibrium used in Population Forecasts and Analysis Hsing-Chun Lin* Associate Professor, Department of Applied Economics, National Chiayi University, E-mail address: [email protected] Huey-Lin Lee Associate Professor,Department of Economics, National Chengchi University E-mail address: [email protected] Po-Chi Chen Associate Professor,Department of International Business, Chung Hua University E-mail address: [email protected] Sheng-Ming Hsu Ph. D. Student, Department of Agricultural Economics, National Taiwan University, E-mail address: [email protected] Kuo-Jung Lin Professor, Department of International Trade, Chihlee Institute of Technology E-mail address: [email protected] Duu-Hwa Lee Associate Professor, Institute of Applied Economics, National Taiwan Ocean Unoversity E-mail address: [email protected] Ching-Cheng Chang, Research Fellow, Institute of Economics, Academia Sinica, and Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, National Taiwan University, Email: [email protected] Shih-Shun Hsu Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, National Taiwan University, E-mail address: [email protected] * Corresponding author. Associate Professor, Department of Applied Economics, National Chiayi University. 580 Sinmin Road, Chiayi, 600, Taiwan. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 886-5-2732858. Fax: 886-5-2732853. Residual errors are ours alone. 1 Abstract Based on the Cohort-Component Method, the Department of Manpower Planning, Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) (2012) made population projections through the assumptions of fertility, mortality, and migration to calculate future population by age and gender groups, and took economic factors as exogenous variables.
    [Show full text]
  • World Population Ageing 2019
    World Population Ageing 2019 ST/ESA/SER.A/444 Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division World Population Ageing 2019 United Nations New York, 2020 The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and national action. The Department works in three main interlinked areas: (i) it compiles, generates and analyses a wide range of economic, social and environmental data and information on which States Members of the United Nations draw to review common problems and take stock of policy options; (ii) it facilitates the negotiations of Member States in many intergovernmental bodies on joint courses of action to address ongoing or emerging global challenges; and (iii) it advises interested Governments on the ways and means of translating policy frameworks developed in United Nations conferences and summits into programmes at the country level and, through technical assistance, helps build national capacities. The Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs provides the international community with timely and accessible population data and analysis of population trends and development outcomes for all countries and areas of the world. To this end, the Division undertakes regular studies of population size and characteristics and of all three components of population change (fertility, mortality and migration). Founded in 1946, the Population Division provides substantive support on population and development issues to the United Nations General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Commission on Population and Development. It also leads or participates in various interagency coordination mechanisms of the United Nations system.
    [Show full text]
  • Challenges and Opportunities of Population Ageing Population Ageing and the Decline in the Working- Age Population Have Become an Increasing Concern
    UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE What UNECE does for you Challenges and opportunities of population ageing Population ageing and the decline in the working- age population have become an increasing concern. As Andres Vikat, Chief of the UNECE Population Activities Unit, clarifies, the so-called demographic bonus is gradually coming to an end. This change has important and far-reaching implications across all spheres of society, including on economic and social development, sustainability and equity. UNECE works on mainstreaming ageing to ensure that the issue is not forgotten or ignored when devising policies in any area. What is population increases, so the total resources Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, which includes a ageing? required to meet their needs are concrete catalogue of measures in the form of ten commitments. growing. Literally all spheres After five years, it is time to review how member States have It’s the result of the interplay of society need to adapt to implemented these commitments. The León Conference is thus of longer lives and fertility this change. The patterns of decline. It’s part of a long- a conference of review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan and the intergenerational relationships term development called the Berlin Strategy. Now, in the context where the consequences of demographic transition, which are changing as well. Nowadays, ageing are becoming increasingly evident and the need to react leads from a regime of high it is quite common that there are more acute, the León Conference will also chart an agenda of mortality and high fertility to four generations in a family, and further actions.
    [Show full text]
  • New Publication 'Ageing Europe – Looking at the Lives of Older People'
    EMBARGO: Friday 18 October 2018 - 11:00 CET 160/2019 - 18 October 2019 20 October: European Statistics Day New publication 'Ageing Europe – looking at the lives of older people' 20 October is the fourth European Statistics Day. Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union (EU), celebrates it with a new publication 'Ageing Europe – looking at the lives of older people'. The publication provides a broad range of statistics that describe the everyday lives of the EU’s older generations. Population ageing is a phenomenon that affects almost every developed country in the world, with both the number and proportion of older people growing across the globe, and this affects most aspects of society and the economy, including housing, healthcare and social protection, labour markets, the demand for goods and services, macroeconomic and fiscal sustainability, family structures and intergenerational ties. At the start of 2019, 101.1 million people in the EU had reached the age of 65 – 20% of the total population. By 2050, this share is projected to increase to 29%. The ageing is mainly due to a long-term fall in fertility rates and increased life expectancy. The publication looks at different socioeconomic indicators by age groups providing a detailed picture of the lives of older people across the EU in six areas: Population developments, Housing and living conditions, Health and disability, Working and moving into retirement, Pensions, income and expenditure, Social life and opinions. A selection of indicators is available as a digital publication, with interactive graphs. Also today, Eurostat has updated three other publications: 'Key figures on Europe - statistics illustrated' and 'Key figures on Europe - statistics visualised', first issued for the European Statistics Day in 2018, Digital publication ‘The life of women and men in Europe’, first issued for the European Statistics Day in 2017.
    [Show full text]