The line graphs depict the trends in global population from 1950 with a prediction to 2040. Overall, this period is expected to witness an opposite pattern in the rural and urban populations. Meanwhile, by 2040, it is forecasted that the percentage of residents aged above 65 years old will increase gradually, whereas there will be a steady decline in the population aged under 65 years old.
In 1950, a higher proportion of the population resided in rural areas than in urban areas, accounting for approximately 60% and 40%, respectively. These figures intersected in 1965, at around 50%. Subsequently, the urban population overtook that of rural regions and rose to 80% by 2010, while only 20% of the population lived in rural areas. Following this, the next decade underwent a stable trend in the population for both regions. By 2030, it is anticipated that the figure for urban areas will increase slightly to 90%, while that for rural areas will fall gradually to 10%. These rates are projected to stabilize through the following decade.
Otherwise, in 1950, the under 15-year-old population constituted the largest percentage, at 45%, while those aged over 65 years old and from 15 to 65 years old comprised 20% 35%, respectively. Conversely, after intersecting at around 31% in 2018, the percentage of the under 15 years old group is anticipated to bottom out at approximately 25% while that of the group aged over 65 years old will considerably peak at 45% by 2040, representing the highest proportion of the global population. Regarding the population from 15 to 65 years old, the forecast is that this figure will reach a low point of approximately 30% by 2040, albeit with a fluctuation before.