In almost every country, the proportion of people aged over 60 years is growing faster than any other age group, as a result of both longer life expectancy and declining fertility rates.
Long life is a sign of good heath. The ageing of the world’s population – in developing and developed countries – is an indicator of improving global health. The world’s elderly population – people 60 years of age and older – is 650 million. By 2050, the “graying” population is forecast to reach 2 billion.