Aging
The world crossed an important threshold in 2018, when the number of older people (over 64 years old) surpassed the number of young children (under the age of 5) for the first time ever. This section explores shifting demographics worldwide and their social, economic, and health consequences
Aging
50%
By 2050, the population of Americans age 65 and older is projected to increase by more than 50%
Rethinking Insurance for an Aging Population
1.6 Years
Between 2019 and 2021, global life expectancy fell by 1.6 years
Global Life Expectancy Declines for First Time in 30 Years
24%
About 24% of rural China is over the age of 60, compared to 18% in cities
COVID Deaths in Rural China
13.2 M
In Nigeria, an estimated 13.2 million children were out of school before 2020
A Longer Life Begins in the Classroom
13%
Only 13% of older adults in Kanagawa require long-term care, a far lower proportion than Japan's 20% average
A New Model for Healthy Aging
57 Million
In 2019, there were more than 57 million people living with dementia globally—roughly the population of Italy
People living with dementia globally
127%
By 2050, New Zealand expects a 127 percent increase in the number of people with dementia
New Zealand's dementia growth by 2050
65.2 Years
In the AIAN population, life expectancy dropped from 67.1 years in 2020 to 65.2 years in 2021
American Indian and Alaska Native life expectancy
77 Percent
77 percent of all vision loss occurs among people aged 50 and older
Aging and vision loss
62%
Population under age 25 in sub-Saharan Africa
Population under age 25 in sub-Saharan Africa
Featured
What It Means to Legalize Assisted Death
More countries are looking to legalize versions of a right to die that are not only assisted, but accepted
South Carolina Addresses the Geriatrician Gap
The state is leading efforts to care for its aging population by recruiting elder-care specialists
South Korea's Plan to Avoid Population Collapse
Proposals include more flexible work schedules and better gender equality with education
How Not to Die Too Soon: The Politics Behind Life Expectancy
In a new book, Devi Sridhar suggests governments should be held accountable for policies that influence life expectancy
Searching for Elderly Patients After the Los Angeles Wildfires
A UCLA neurologist describes the struggle to reach socially and physically isolated patients months after the wildfires
The Weaponization of Witchcraft Laws in Kenya
Poorly understood land rights and an aging population are fueling Kenya's eldercide epidemic
AI Gains Ground with Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Prevention
Transforming the breast cancer landscape through the power of artificial intelligence
Roadblocks to Gen Z's Mental Health Care
Struggles felt by Gen Z spotlight the issues of mental health-care access in the United States
AI and Facial Recognition Dive Into Global Health Care
How artificial intelligence is used to diagnose diseases and understand behavior
Traditional Medicine Gains Global Policy Recognition
How physician and immunologist Kenji Watanabe's efforts brought East Asian traditional medicine to the fore
Rethinking Insurance for an Aging Population
Instead of patchwork policy and inaction, the United States needs a national program for long-term care
A Longer Life Begins in the Classroom
A new study measures how much extra life comes from being educated
Global Life Expectancy Declines for First Time in 30 Years
Overall life expectancy is struggling, according to a highly anticipated update to the Global Burden of Disease study
Unsung Heroes: How Elder Care Leans on Singapore’s Women
Addressing the disproportionate effect of aging societies on women