home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Software Vault: The Gold Collection
/
Software Vault - The Gold Collection (American Databankers) (1993).ISO
/
cdr12
/
censpres.zip
/
CB93-71
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-05-27
|
5KB
|
121 lines
EMBARGOED UNTIL: TUES., APRIL 20, 1993
Public Information Office CB93-71
301-763-4040
Kevin Kinsella
301-763-4884
Cynthia Taeuber
301-763-7883
WORLD'S ELDERLY POPULATION GROWING STEADILY,
CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS
The world's elderly population, those 65 years and over, are
an increasingly larger proportion of the world's total
population, according to a new report from the Commerce
Department's Census Bureau. In fact, the report finds that the
coming growth of the oldest old, those 80 years and over, will be
stunning.
Kevin Kinsella co-author with Cynthia Taeuber of the report,
An Aging World II (P95/92-3), says the report consists of
demographic, social, and economic data from national censuses and
surveys in 50 countries. The report focuses on both developed
and developing nations and shows the diversity of elderly
populations.
(more)
-2-
"The findings," according to Kinsella, "show that one of
the major successes of the 20th century is that populations have
the luxury of aging." Most notably:
o The global population aged 65 and over is estimated to
be 342 million persons (6.2 percent of the world's
total population in 1992). This is an increase of
2.7 million elderly people since 1991.
o The world's elderly population is increasing by
800,000 persons each month. By the year 2010,
projections suggest the worldwide growth of the elderly
will by over 1.1 million people a month.
o The elderly population is growing at the fastest rate
in developing countries. Sixty-two percent of the
world's monthly net increase in elderly individuals,
half a million persons, occurs in developing countries.
o The fastest growing portion of the elderly population
are those aged 80 and over. Nearly 40 percent of the
world's population 80 years and over live in the
People's Republic of China, the United States, and the
lands encompassing the former Soviet Union combined.
Taeuber says, "The population 80 years and over are
22 percent of the elderly in developed nations and
12 percent in developing nations. These proportions
probably won't change too much in most countries, but
(more)
-3-
the numbers may increase rapidly. This could be a
challenge for developing nations where families
traditionally provide all care for frail elderly."
"The projected increase in the world's elderly population
is primarily the result of high fertility after World War II,"
Taeuber continued. "Other nations have Baby-Boom generations
just like the United States."
"The increase is secondarily the result of reduced death
rates at all ages so that more people reach old age. In most
nations of the world, there have been major reductions in
infectious and parasitic diseases, reductions in infant and
maternal mortality, and improved nutrition in this century,"
Kinsella added.
Other notable findings from the report:
o Based on the mortality experience of 1990, Japan's
life expectancy of 79 years is the world's highest.
However, Europe is the world's oldest region.
o In 1992, Sweden was the world's oldest country, with
17.9 percent of the population aged 65 and over,
followed by Norway at 16.3 percent, and the United
Kingdom at 15.7 percent. Japan and the United States
rank 19th and 20th respectively, with both having
12.8 percent of their populations aged 65 and over.
o In most nations, elderly women outnumber elderly men.
(more)
-4-
Elderly men tend to be married, while elderly women
tend to be widowed.
o In developing nations, the majority of elderly live
with others. In developed nations, 40 percent of
Swenden's elderly lived alone (the highest) compared
with only 10 percent in Japan (the lowest).
The report was funded by the National Institute on Aging's
Office of the Demography of Aging. The NIA supports
collaborative, crossnational efforts on aging statistics.
Dr. Richard Suzman, Director of the demography office, notes that
"it is extraordinarily valuable to compare the U.S. with other
industrialized nations on the impact of population aging,
particularly as all of us begin to address the health care and
income security issues that come with an aging society. This is
especially true when confronted with the emergence of the oldest
old population as a substantial segment of the population."
-X-
Editor's Note: Media representatives may obtain copies of the
report from the bureau's Public Information Office on
301-763-4040. Non-media orders should go to the bureau's
Customer Services Office on 301-763-4100.