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Global population aging projected to nearly double by 2060
The global population is undergoing a rapid demographic shift toward aging. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s ‘An Aging World: 2025’ report, the proportion of people aged 65 and older is projected to rise from 10.5% in 2025 to 19.6% by 2060. A significant milestone was reached between 2020 and 2025, when older adults outnumbered children aged 5 and younger for the first time in recorded history.
Regional trends vary significantly. While Japan held the world’s oldest population in 2025, South Korea is expected to lead by 2060 with 41% of its population aged 65 or older. Europe remains the oldest region, but Africa is projected to surpass it in the total number of older adults by 2060. In the United States, the elderly population is expected to reach 23.4% by 2060, though the country will rank lower globally as other nations age more rapidly.
This demographic transformation is driven by declining fertility rates and increased life expectancy. It poses substantial challenges to healthcare systems, labor markets, and public finances. In response to these trends, institutions like the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMéx) are launching initiatives, such as gerontology workshops, to prepare professionals for the multidisciplinary needs of an aging society. Additionally, scientific research in Hispanoamerica is increasingly focusing on mental health and social representations of aging to address these evolving societal needs.
Entities
Japan · Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú · South Korea · U.S. Census Bureau · Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México · World Health Organization
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México is hosting a workshop to promote gerontological perspectives and multidisciplinary health approaches for aging. www.diarioevolucion.com.mx · unomasuno.com.mx
- [● 2 SOURCES] South Korea is projected to become the world’s oldest country by 2060, with approximately 41% of its population aged 65 or older. nemosnewsnetwork.com · finchannel.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Africa is expected to surpass Europe in the total number of older adults by 2060, with 249 million people aged 65 and older. nemosnewsnetwork.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The share of the global population aged 65 and older is projected to rise from 10.5% in 2025 to 19.6% by 2060. nemosnewsnetwork.com · finchannel.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A bibliometric analysis of scientific production on aging in Hispanoamerica shows Colombia has the highest number of publications, while the Southern Cone has the most significant relative weight. hdl.handle.net
- [● 2 SOURCES] Between 2020 and 2025, the proportion of the global population aged 65 and older surpassed the share of children aged 5 and younger for the first time in recorded history. nemosnewsnetwork.com · finchannel.com