Population of Seniors Expected to Double Worldwide by 2050

People Are Living to be Older, But Are They Healthier?
  

According to a new U.S. Census Report, the world’s population of seniors aged 65 and older is expected to increase from 617 million to 1.6 billion from now to 20150, reports HNGN.com. At 1.6 billion, seniors will make up 17 percent of the population around the world, compared to 8.5 percent currently.  In the United States alone, the number of seniors will increase from 48 million to 88 million by 2050.

The report also found that seniors will most likely live longer, with the life expectancy rate expected to increase from 68.8 years to 76.2 years. Seniors 80 years old and up are also expected to increase from 126.5 million to 446.6 million, with the majority of this population be concentrated in Asia and Latin America.

"We are seeing population aging in every country in every part of the world," said John Haaga, the acting director of the National Institute of Aging's (NIA) Division of Behavioral and Social Research. "Many countries in Europe and Asia are further along in the process, or moving more rapidly, than we are in the United States. Since population aging affects so many aspects of public life—acute and long-term health care needs, pensions, work and retirement, transportation, housing—there is a lot of potential for learning from each other's experience."

Richard J. Hodes, director of the NIA, which commissioned the report, said, “People are living longer, but that does not necessarily mean that they are living healthier. The increase in our aging population presents many opportunities and also several public health challenges that we need to prepare for.” 

In terms of heath conditions that could affect the global population of seniors, researchers found that the main cause for concern is non-infectious diseases. They noted that infectious disease can also be a huge medical problem for older adults from low-income nations.  

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