Population aging is the inevitable increase in the share of older persons that results from a decline in fertility and improvement in survival. Population ageing is poised to become one of the most significant social transformations of the twenty-first century, with implications for nearly all sectors of society, including labour and financial markets, the demand for goods and services, such as housing, transportation and social protection, as well as family structures and inter-generational ties.
The process of population aging is currently most advanced in Europe and in North America, but by 2050, the following is projected to become a reality:
- The global population aged 60 years or over is projected to reach nearly 2.1 billion.
- 79 per cent of the world's population aged 60 or older will be living in developing regions.
- There will be more older persons (ages 60 years or older) than adolescents and youth (ages 10-24 years) - 2.1 billion vs 2.0 billion.
- Japan, Spain and Portugal are projected to have the largest share of persons aged 60 or older.
The next thirty years will be trans-formative across the globe. The impact of population aging will be felt across everything from government policy to consumer trends.
Already, many places are creating new programs and services aimed at seniors. Israel's Here We Live program offers university students reduced tuition costs and low-cost housing if they move into a spare room in an older person's home and spend at least five hours each week with them. Japan's Watch Over service allows seniors living independently or their family to pay a small monthly fee so that a postal carrier will check on elderly patients as part of their daily route and relay information on their well-being to family members using an iPad. And in San Francisco, Lift Hero is allowing seniors to book rides (both online and over the phone if they prefer) with drivers who are primarily training to be doctors or other medical professionals.
How will society and social structures change to compensate for the increased economic pressure an aging population puts on the working aged population? Will international migration have a significant impact on any individual country's age profile? What impact will aging populations have on the industries and economies of countries around the globe?
Aging demographics is one of SANDSTONE’s core themes for investment . Already we are seeing huge crossovers between our aging demographics and disruptive technology themes. What do you see as possibilities within an aging population?