Designing for the Life Span Segment 2

Slide 61 Content

Summary Conclusions Related to Population Age Change:

Prior to the onset of the 20th century, the population over the age of 65 grew steadily - but held a relatively constant proportional relationship to the rest of the world and national population at 1%;
During the 20th century, the older population began to grow world-wide to levels of 13% in industrialized countries and lesser proportions (but still increasing) in less developed countries;
The older population is expected to continue to grow in the 21st century with people over 65 reaching 20% of the total world population by the year 2050;
The older the age segment, the faster its growth - with Americans over 100 years having the fastest growth rate of any segment of the national population;
America at mid-century was largely a youth culture with 50% of the population of the country below the age of 25 in 1965;
By 1975, that spike in the population of young people became the "age wave" of baby-boomers now moving into their 50s and 60s;
Fertility rates and birth rates have declined steadily - especially in industrialized countries - with the highest birth rates occurring in Asia (with the exception of China), North Africa, the Middle East and the sub-Sahara region of Africa;
After 2050, the growth rate of older adults over 65 is expected to peak and slightly diminish.