Global Demographic Transition & AgingThe changing shape of populations — the share aged 65+, old-age dependency, fertility, the young, and life expectancy — for the world, income groups, regions & ~55 of the largest countries

How to read this. Every figure is a World Bank reported value for a specific year — always shown next to the number, because the latest available year varies (most population structure measures run through 2024). This is descriptive: it shows where each population stands in the demographic transition and how its shape has moved since 2000. It does not predict the future. The link from an aging population to a heavier non-communicable-disease and long-term-care burden is offered as interpretive context, not a forecast.

— — measured World Bank reported interpretive framing & the aging→burden link

● The transition, in one view measuredinterpretive

World aged 65+ · —

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Old-age dependency · —

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Total fertility · —

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Aged under 15 · —

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World aged 65+ (%), 2000→— measured

World fertility (births/woman), 2000→—

World aged under 15 (%), 2000→—

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▤ Oldest vs youngest societies measured

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Ranked across the ~55 most populous countries in this atlas (not all 200+ World Bank economies). The year column is the latest available reported value for each country and indicator. "Oldest first" sorts so the most-aged society is at the top (highest 65+ share / dependency / life expectancy, or lowest fertility / under-15 share). Bar length is relative to the highest value shown.

◭ Population shape — young vs old measuredinterpretive

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under 1565 and overbar length = % of total population (latest year)

World Bank aggregate series (population-weighted estimates). Each row shows the youngest and oldest ends of the age structure side by side: a wide purple bar with a thin teal bar is a young, still-growing population; the reverse is an aged one. The middle (working-age 15–64) is not drawn. interpretive: a larger 65+ share is generally associated with a heavier chronic-disease and long-term-care load.

◑ Aging high-income vs still-young low-income measured

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World Bank aggregate series. Income groups (high / upper-middle / lower-middle / low) and regions are the Bank's own classifications. The spark line traces 2000→latest; "change" is latest vs. 2000. These aggregates are population-weighted estimates, not a simple average of member countries.

◎ Country profile measured

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Aged 65+ (%), 2000→latest measured

Fertility (births/woman), 2000→latest

Aged under 15 (%), 2000→latest

How it compares — aged 65+, latest value

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