Within 10 years the world will have more people collecting pensions than children entering nursery school, according to a new study commissioned by the National Institute on Aging .
The 204-page report titled: “An Aging World: 2008,” which was produced by the U.S. Census Bureau, pegs the worldwide population over the age of 65 to be around 506 million as of the middle of 2008. That number is expected to swell to 1.3 billion by 2040.
And, for the first time in the history of the planet, there will be more people over the age of 65 than under the age of 5 within the next decade, according to the report.
China and India have nearly one-third of the world’s 65-and-older population, with about 166 million people in the September of their years. However, western Europe remains the oldest population proportionately, with about 18 percent of the population over 65. North America has about 13 percent of its population at retirement age or older, while the youngest populations are in Africa and the near east, each with under 5 percent of the population over 65.
In addition, people over 80 are the fastest growing population in the world, with their numbers expected to jump 233 percent between now and 2040. By comparison, the total population is expected to increase 33 percent during that same period.
The aging population will also bring an increase in mortality from cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and various hypertensive diseases. In addition, chronic diseases like diabetes are expected increase as well.