The line graph compares the percentages of people aged 65 and over in three countries between 1940 and 2040.
It is clear that the proportion of elderly people increased in all three countries over the period. Overall, Japan began with a much lower share of older people than the USA and Sweden, but it is expected to have the highest percentage by 2040. The USA had the largest elderly population at the beginning of the period.
In 1940, about 9% of the population in the USA was aged 65 or above. The figures for Sweden and Japan were lower, at approximately 6% and 5% respectively. By 1980, the proportions in both the USA and Sweden had risen to nearly 15%, whereas Japan experienced a decline to around 2%.
By 2020, Sweden’s figure had climbed to just under 20%, making it the country with the highest proportion of elderly people at that time. In comparison, the USA and Japan also saw increases to about 15% and 10% respectively. Looking ahead, Japan is predicted to experience a dramatic rise and is expected to have the largest proportion of people aged 65 and over by 2040.