Question

Summarize the global trends in aging, to include anything you notice after studying Exhibit 10.1 Older Population Percentages by World Regions:2010,2025,2050

Percentage of Percentage of Population Aged 65 Population Aged 80 Years or older Years or Older EXHIBIT 10.1 Older Population Percentages by World Regions: 2010, 2025, and 2050 World Region Sub-Saharan Africa 0.4 3.1 3.5 5.6 0.9 2010 2025 2050 Asia (excluding Near East) 2010 2025 2050 7.2 10.7 1.9 19.2 Eastern Europe 2010 2025 2050 14.5 20.7 30.4 Western Europe 2010 2025 2050 18.0 22.0 27.7 10.9 Latin America/Caribbean 2010 2025 2050 6.8 10.2 18.6 North America 2010 2025 13.3 19.2 21.4 2050 Oceania 2010 2025 11.1 15.0 19.5 2050 6.6 Source: Data from the US Census Bureau (2015).

Answer 1

Global trends in aging

The process of becoming older or more mature is called aging. One of the major global trend in aging is the rapid increase in the elderly population. Studies show that 8% of world population were there on 1950, 10% in 2000. By 2050 the elderly population may reach 21% of the total world population.  

The progress and advancement in medicine, medical technologies, availability of good food and health care services made a considerable contribution in the increase of elderly population in different countries.  

As the exhibit 10.1 shows developed and industrialised countries such as eastern Europe, western Europe, North America are having a greater number of elderly ( 14%, 18% and 13.3% respectively). But by 2050 even the developing countries also the number of elderly will increase considerably. ( Asia-19.2%). Europe will become the major region in the world, where there is highest percentage in the number of elderly persons.

As the elderly population is increasing, the health care costs will increase for the country and also retirement income and pensions have to be there to cover the remaining long years. Increased social and economical demands will be there on developed as well as developing countries because of rapid increase in the elderly population.