A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals a historic demographic shift: in 2025, the number of people aged 65 and older worldwide has surpassed the number of children under six for the first time. This milestone underscores the accelerating pace of global population aging.

According to the report, there are approximately 852 million people over 65 in 2025, representing 10.5% of the global population. Projections indicate that by 2060, the number of elderly could nearly double to 2 billion, accounting for 19.6% of the world's population.

The primary drivers of population aging are declining fertility rates and increased life expectancy. In 2023, more than 71% of the world's population lived in countries with fertility rates at or below replacement level.

Aging is not confined to developed nations. China and India, the world's most populous countries, already have fertility rates below replacement level.

The most significant increase in the elderly population is expected in Asia, where numbers could rise from 487 million in 2025 to 1.24 billion by 2060. In Africa, the population over 65 is projected to quadruple from 60 million to 249 million. In comparison, Europe is expected to have about 214 million elderly by 2060.

Concurrently, the proportion of young children will decline. According to Axios calculations, by 2060, people over 65 will constitute nearly 20% of the global population, while children under six will account for only about 7%.

This shift in age structure will place additional strain on healthcare, pension, and long-term care systems. However, increased longevity could also serve as an economic resource: older individuals may remain in the workforce longer, engage in volunteering, and assist with family care.

Source: podrobno.uz