Everyone gets older. It’s no secret—nor should it be treated like one.  Today, more people than ever have the opportunity to grow old. Improvements in technology, medicine, social support, and other factors have extended the life expectancy of communities all around the world. With these changes in life expectancy come changes in population demographics.

Population Aging

One of the phenomena we will experience in the coming decades is known as “population aging.” Population aging occurs when the distribution of a nation’s population begins shifting towards older age groups, with more of the population being made up of older adults. The population aging that the U.S. will experience by 2050 can be seen in Figure 1., a population pyramid from the United States Census Bureau. 

In 1960, most of the population in the United States was composed of younger people, with the pyramid reaching a steep point towards ages 85+. In 2060, however, what once was a pyramid will become much more rectangular. This occurs as generations live longer and longer, maintaining their shape on the pyramid rather than tapering off with age.

Cause for Concern?

According to the World Health Organization, the proportion of adults over age 65 will reach 22% by 2050. That’s almost double the 12% that older adults made up in 2015. As 2050 approaches, experts predict that the fertility rate will decrease in the United States. This contributes further to the aging of the population as fewer babies are being born in comparison to the increasing levels of adults getting older. 

Don’t let these numbers scare you— the American population isn’t disappearing anytime soon. Thankfully, the high levels of immigration in the United States support the population even as these changes occur. One concern for the future that many hold is the decreasing levels of young individuals per older individual, especially when it comes to government programs like Social Security.  But luckily, immigration continues to expand the labor force, maintaining the support needed to run these government programs. According to the World Health Organization, this dilemma is very prominent in countries like Japan, with a rapidly aging population and strict immigration policy. In these circumstances, nations will likely begin to see a decrease in their population as a whole. Discussions on population aging and the changes it brings will likely become more and more prominent as we stride farther into the future.

Changes, not Challenges

When hearing about the upcoming changes from now to 2050, many find themselves frightened for the future. Many worry about the challenges these demographic changes may bring, or how government policy will change as a result.  But there’s no need to be scared. Change is something that has always existed, and will continue to exist for the rest of our lives and for the lives of those after us. And the act of growing older shouldn’t seem scary either. Not only are lifespans extending, healthspans are growing right alongside them. Older adults are living healthier for longer than ever before. People are living both long lives and good lives.  And you should expect, and prepare, to do the same. 

Data from World Health Organization (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health)

and United States Census Bureau (https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/2018/comm/century-of-change.html)