Band 7+: The line graph below shows the proportion of the population aged 65 and over between 1940 and 2040 in three different countries. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The line graph illustrates the percentage of the elderly population in the three countries namely the USA, Sweden, and Japan from 1940 to 2040.

Overall, all three countries experience a significant increase in the proportion of elderly people over the given period. Japan shows the most dramatic rise, especially after 2000, while the USA and Sweden witness a more gradual upward trend.

In 1940, the proportion of elderly citizens in Japan accounting for around 5% was approximately half the percentage in the USA. This figure declined slightly to about 3% in 1960 and remained relatively stable until after 1980. After that point, the figure began to rise, reaching around 10% by 2020. It is predicted to surge sharply and top the chart at approximately 27% in 2040.

In contrast, both the USA and Sweden saw a steady increase from 1940 to 1980, peaking at almost 15%. Between 1980 and 2020, the percentage of this group age in the USA reached a plateau at roughly 15%, while Sweden continued to hit a high of approximately 20%. Finally, the USA witnesses a slight increase while Sweden undergoes a small decline, after which, both countries are estimated to reach about 25% by 2040.