Population Over 65 by Country — 2024 World Rankings

The share of population aged 65 and above is the standard demographic indicator of population aging. It reflects the combined effects of increasing life expectancy (people live longer) and declining fertility (fewer young people are born to offset the aging population). The data comes from the World Bank using United Nations Population Division estimates.

Japan is the world's most aged society, with roughly 30% of its population over 65 — a proportion that will continue to rise toward 40% by 2050. Italy, Germany, Finland, and Portugal all exceed 22%. At the other extreme, sub-Saharan African countries like Niger, Uganda, and Chad have less than 3% of their population over 65, reflecting both high fertility rates and shorter life expectancy.

Population aging creates profound economic challenges. As the ratio of retirees to working-age adults increases, pension and healthcare systems come under strain. Japan spends roughly 10% of GDP on pension payments alone. Immigration can partially offset aging — the United States ages more slowly than Europe or East Asia partly because of sustained immigration inflows. However, even high-immigration countries face long-term aging pressures as global fertility rates converge downward. Automation and AI are increasingly viewed as potential solutions to labor shortages caused by aging, though the transition is uncertain.