The graphs illustrate changes in the populations of urban and rural areas, together with the distribution of people across three age groups, between 1950 and 2040.
Overall, the urban population rose steadily and remained consistently larger than the rural population throughout the period. In terms of age distribution, the proportion of working-age adults (16-65) dominated at all times, while the elderly population (65+) increased markedly and eventually overtook the youngest group (0-15).
With regard to residential patterns, the number of urban residents grew continuously, rising from around 8 million in 1950 to roughly 20 million by 2000, before climbing further to nearly 35 million in 2040. By contrast, the rural population also expanded but at a slower pace, rising from about 4 million to around 15 million over the same 90-year period. Consequently, the overall population recorded a substantial increase, which can largely be attributed to urban growth.
Turning to age structure, both the 16-65 and 65+ cohorts experienced growth, with the working-age group showing the most significant rise, reaching nearly 30 million by 2040. In 1950, the 16-65 group made up the majority, followed by 0-15 and then 65+. This pattern held until around 2000, when the youngest group began to decline while the elderly group accelerated. Around 2010, the two categories converged, and thereafter the elderly population surpassed the youngest, reversing the earlier pattern. Despite these shifts, the 16-65 cohort consistently represented the largest share of the population across the entire timeframe.