Global population of elderly surpasses children under 5 for first time

For the first time in history, the global population of individuals aged 65 and older has surpassed the number of children under the age of five. According to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau, this demographic shift is driven by declining global birth rates and increasing human life expectancy.

In 2023, more than 71% of the world's population lived in countries with fertility rates at or below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, a significant increase from 45% in 2013. The population aged 65 and older is projected to grow from 852 million in 2025 to 2 billion by 2060, accounting for approximately 55% of the world's total net population growth during that period.

Low fertility rates are no longer confined to wealthy nations. Countries such as China, India, Bangladesh, Mexico, and Vietnam have all fallen below the replacement threshold since 2013. This phenomenon, described as a “reproduction trap,” accelerates population aging and threatens to reduce the potential labor force and impact elderly care sectors.