With global life expectancy now at 73.8 years, countries from developed economies to emerging markets are broadly facing increasing pressure on healthcare, labor, and social systems. An ageing society has become an irreversible global trend.
TAIPEI, TAIWAN (MERXWIRE) – The global population structure is rapidly changing, and ageing has become an unavoidable challenge for countries worldwide. According to data from the international statistics platform Worldometer, global life expectancy has reached 73.8 years, with 76.4 years for women and 71.2 years for men, reflecting a continued increase in human longevity. With advances in healthcare and improved living conditions, people are entering older age stages, bringing new demographic challenges and turning ageing from a regional issue into a global concern.
As the global elderly population continues to grow, significant changes in population structure have emerged. A report by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that in 2020, the number of people aged 60 and above exceeded the number of children under the age of five. This marks a fundamental demographic shift and signals a transition from youth-dominated societies to ageing-centered social structures.
The WHO projects that by 2030, one in every six people worldwide will be aged 60 or older, increasing from 1 billion in 2020 to 1.4 billion. By 2050, the global population aged 60 and above will reach 2.1 billion, while those aged 80 and above are expected to rise to 426 million, nearly tripling current levels. This not only reflects the arrival of a longevity society but also signals unprecedented pressure on healthcare, long-term care, and social welfare systems.
The ageing issue is becoming increasingly urgent. According to data from the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), the scale of elderly populations in many countries is already substantial. China leads with 166 million people aged 65 and above, followed by India with 84.9 million and the United States with 52.76 million. Although Japan has a smaller total population, it has 35.58 million elderly people, accounting for 28.2% of its population, indicating a more severe ageing level. European countries such as Germany, Italy, and France are also widely facing ageing pressures.
Top 10 Countries With the Largest Number of Older Adults
| Rank | Country | # 65+ (in millions) | % 65+ (of total population) | # Total population (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 166.37 | 11.9 | 1398.03 |
| 2 | India | 84.9 | 6.1 | 1391.89 |
| 3 | United States | 52.76 | 16 | 329.15 |
| 4 | Japan | 35.58 | 28.2 | 126.18 |
| 5 | Russian Federation | 21.42 | 14.6 | 146.73 |
| 6 | Brazil | 17.79 | 8.5 | 209.33 |
| 7 | Germany | 17.78 | 21.4 | 83.1 |
| 8 | Indonesia | 15.16 | 5.6 | 268.42 |
| 9 | Italy | 13.76 | 22.8 | 60.34 |
| 10 | France | 13.16 | 20.3 | 64.83 |
It is worth noting that ageing is not exclusive to developed countries. The WHO estimates that by 2050, around 80% of the global elderly population will live in low- and middle-income countries, indicating a rapid spread of population ageing to developing regions. The ageing trend once associated mainly with high-income countries such as Japan is now shifting toward emerging markets with much larger population bases, making the global ageing challenge more complex and larger in scale.
Amid demographic changes, labor markets have also been shifting in recent years. Data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that in developed countries, labor force participation among people aged 55 and above has reached record highs, reflecting delayed retirement and longer working lives. However, overall employment among older adults remains less stable than among prime-age workers, with only about 60% of older individuals in employment, indicating continued difficulties in securing jobs for older populations.
As population ageing evolves from a single-country issue into a cross-border systemic challenge, countries must not only strengthen healthcare and long-term care systems but also adjust fiscal, labor, and social welfare policies to address long-term pressures caused by rapid demographic shifts. As the elderly population continues to grow, economic growth drivers and resource allocation are also being reshaped. Ensuring quality of life for the elderly while extending life expectancy has become a core challenge that governments around the world must confront.
