Global elderly population surpasses young children for the first time

For the first time in recorded history, the global population of people aged 65 and older has surpassed the number of children aged five and younger. According to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau, this demographic shift is driven by declining fertility rates and increased life expectancy.

In 2025, individuals aged 65 and older accounted for 10.5% of the global population, exceeding the proportion of children aged five and under. This trend is expected to accelerate; by 2060, the elderly population is projected to reach approximately 2 billion, representing 19.6% of the total population, while the global population is expected to grow to 10.23 billion.

Europe remains the most aged region, with the EU's fertility rate dropping to 1.34 children per woman. However, the shift is global, with the world's two most populous nations, China and India, both seeing fertility rates fall below the replacement level of 2.1. Experts warn of a “fertility trap” and increasing pressure on national budgets, healthcare systems, and social security programs as the ratio of workers to retirees shifts.