The graph illustrates the percentage of individuals aged 65 and above from 1940 to 2040 in three countries: Japan, Sweden, and the United States.
Overall, Japan exhibits a significant increase in its elderly population over the given period, whereas Sweden and the USA demonstrate relatively stable yet noticeable trends.
In 1940, the proportion of the population aged 65 and over was approximately 5% in both Japan and the USA, while Sweden recorded a slightly higher figure of about 8%. By 1960, these figures remained relatively stagnant in Japan at around 5%, while the USA rose to nearly 9%, and Sweden experienced moderate growth to about 10%. Moving forward to 1980, Japan saw an increase to approximately 8%, the USA reached around 11%, and Sweden surpassed 14%. By the year 2000, Japan and Sweden were equal at 15%, with the USA slightly trailing behind at nearly 13%.
As we approached 2020, Japan experienced a dramatic surge, positioning itself at 28%, while both Sweden and the USA converged near 20%. Forecasts for 2040 suggest that Japan will maintain its lead at an estimated 27%, with Sweden following closely at around 25%, and the USA at approximately 23%. Notably, Japan’s trajectory indicates the most rapid growth among the three countries, particularly sharp between 2020 and 2040, in stark contrast to the more gradual changes observed in Sweden and the USA throughout the same period.