The line graph illustrates the proportion of people aged 65 and over in Japan, Sweden, and the USA from 1940 to 2040.
Overall, all three countries experienced an upward trend in the percentage of elderly people throughout the period. Japan had the lowest figure for most of the timeline but is projected to surpass both Sweden and the USA by 2040. Meanwhile, Sweden and the USA saw gradual growth, although Sweden’s rate increased more sharply from the early 2000s onwards.
In 1940, Japan recorded the lowest proportion of elderly citizens, at around 5%. This figure fell slightly to just under 3% by 1960 and remained relatively stable until 1980. After that, the percentage began to rise steadily, accelerating dramatically after 2020 and reaching an estimated peak of approximately 27% by 2040.
In contrast, Sweden and the USA started with higher proportions, at about 7% and 9% respectively in 1940. Both countries saw gradual increases over the following decades, with Sweden’s figure climbing to roughly 15% in 1980 and then continuing to grow. Sweden rose to 20% by 2020, followed by a projected surge to 25% in 2040. Starting at 9%, the proportion in the USA rose steadily to about 15% by 1980 and eventually increased further to nearly 23% in 2040 after a brief period of stability.