The table compares the proportion of people aged 60 and over in six regions and worldwide in 2000, and gives projected percentages for 2050. It reports observed figures for Africa, North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America and Oceania, and presents forecasts for the middle of the 21st century.
Overall, there is a clear trend of ageing populations across all regions, with every area expected to register higher proportions of older people by 2050. Notably, the disparity between regions narrows slightly, as areas with relatively low shares in 2000 show larger proportional increases than those that were already older.
In 2000, Europe had the highest share of people aged 60 and over at 22%, followed by the world average of 13% and Asia at 12%. North America and Oceania recorded identical proportions of 11%, while Latin America and Africa had the lowest values of 7% and 5% respectively. These figures illustrate that Europe was markedly older than the other regions at the start of the period, whereas Africa and Latin America were comparatively youthful.
By 2050, all regions are projected to see substantial rises. Europe is expected to remain the eldest region at 31%, with Asia close behind on 28%. North America will increase to 26% and Oceania to 22%. Latin America and Africa will also grow considerably to 18% and 12% respectively. Consequently, the global share of people aged 60 and over is forecast to climb to 24%, reflecting the widespread demographic shift toward older populations.