Contained within the 5th Edition (1978 to 1995) of the National Atlas of Canada is a sheet that has 2 maps and an inset map. The first map shows proportion of total population in 65 to 74 and 75 plus age groups for each Census Division in 1986. An inset map shows the same information for the area from Windsor to Quebec. The second map of Canada shows proportion under 15 by Census Division. Population pyramids of age / sex distributions for 1961 and 1986 shown for each province, territory and for Canada.

According to the age distribution of China's population in 2024, approximately 68.6 percent of the population were in their working age between 15 and 64 years of age. Retirees aged 65 years and above made up about 15.6 percent of the total population. Age distribution in China As can be seen from this statistic, the age pyramid in China has been gradually shifting towards older demographics during the past decade. Mainly due to low birth rates in China, the age group of 0 to 14 year-olds has remained at around 16 to 17 percent since 2010, whereas the age groups 65 years and over have seen growth of nearly seven percentage points. Thus, the median age of the Chinese population has been constantly rising since 1970 and is forecast to reach 52 years by 2050. Accompanied by a slightly growing mortality rate of more than 7 per thousand, China is showing strong signs of an aging population. China's aging society The impact of this severe change in demographics is the subject of an ongoing scientific discussion. Rising standards of living in China contain the demand for better health care and pension insurance for retirees, which will be hard to meet with the social insurance system in China still being in its infancy. Per capita expenditure on medical care and services of urban households has grown more than ninefold since 2000 with a clear and distinctive upward trend for the near future. As for social security spending, public pension expenditure is forecast to take up approximately nine percent of China's GDP by 2050.

1. The population pyramid is a graphic way of representing basic statistical data, sex and age, of the population of this municipality, which allows an easy and rapid perception of several demographic phenomena such as population aging, balance or imbalance...
   Only statistical data are displayed.

Over the last decade, Japan’s population has aged more and more, to the point where more than a quarter of Japanese were 65 years and older in 2022. Population growth has stopped and even reversed, since it’s been in the red for several years now.

It’s getting old

With almost 30 percent of its population being elderly inhabitants, Japan is considered the “oldest” country in the world today. Japan boasts a high life expectancy, in fact, the Japanese tend to live longer than the average human worldwide. The increase of the aging population is accompanied by a decrease of the total population caused by a sinking birth rate. Japan’s fertility rate has been below the replacement rate for many decades now, mostly due to economic uncertainty and thus a decreasing number of marriages.

Are the Japanese invincible?

There is no real mystery surrounding the ripe old age of so many Japanese. Their high average age is very likely due to high healthcare standards, nutrition, and an overall high standard of living – all of which could be adopted by other industrial nations as well. But with high age comes less capacity, and Japan’s future enemy might not be an early death, but rather a struggling social network.

As of January 2024, the population aged over 65 years in Spain amounted to **** million people, thus continuing the upward trend witnessed in previous years. Between 2002 and 2024, the elderly population increased by almost ***** million. According to recent data, people aged over 65 years represent nearly a fifth of the Spanish population. Ageism, a growing concern As it is happening in most advanced economies, the Spanish population is getting older. The Mediterranean country featured a median age of **** years in 2020, and it is forecast to reach 51.8 years in 2050. Life expectancy and the fertility rate are experiencing opposite trends, and while the former keeps improving, the latter continue to decrease. As a result, the Spanish population pyramid is turning into the contracting type, which has worrying social and economic consequences. Poverty among seniors The average amount of a retirement pension in the country is just over ***** euros a month, though this figure depends on the scheme and place of residence. There were almost *** million persons receiving a monthly retirement pension which amounted to *** euros or less in 2023. This scarce allowance can be insufficient to provide a good quality of life. Most recent data shows that over ** percent of those aged 65 or older were at risk of poverty, an extremely high rate even though this was one of the age groups that featured the lowest risk of poverty. On average, ** percent of the spending among this age group is channeled towards housing, water, electricity and fuels, which leaves little room for spending on other items (food, dress, services, etc.) for those millions of people whose retirement pension is not even close to the national minimum wage. For more data on this topic, check Statista's report on Seniors in Spain.

In 2024, the share of the population in Taiwan aged 65 and older accounted for approximately 19.2 percent of the total population. While the share of old people on the island increased gradually over recent years, the percentage of the working-age population and the children have both declined. Taiwan’s aging population With one of the lowest fertility rates in the world and a steadily growing life expectancy, the average age of Taiwan’s population is increasing quickly, and the share of people aged 65 and above is expected to reach around 38.4 percent of the total population in 2050. This development is also reflected in Taiwan’s population pyramid, which shows that the size of the youngest age group is only half of the size of age groups between 40 and 60 years. The rapid aging of the populations puts a heavy burden on the social insurance system. Old-age dependency is expected to reach more than 70 percent by 2050, meaning that by then three people of working age will have to support two elders, compared to only one elder supported by four working people today. Aging societies in East Asia Today, many countries in East Asia have very low fertility rates and face the challenges of aging societies. This is especially true among those countries that experienced high economic growth in the past, which often resulted in quickly receding birth rates. Japan was one of the first East Asian countries witnessing this demographic change, as is reflected in its high median age. South Korea had the lowest fertility rate of all Asian countries in recent years, and with China, one of the largest populations on earth joined the ranks of quickly aging societies.

In 2024, approximately 965.65 million people in China were of working age between 15 and 64 years. This was equal to a 68.3 percent share of the total population. Age groups between 30 and 59 years represented the largest age cohorts in the Chinese population pyramid. Age demographics in China The change in China’s age distribution over time displayed in the given statistic illustrates the unfolding of an aging population. As the fertility rate in China declined and life expectancy increased, the only age groups that have been growing over the last three decades were those of old people. In contrast, the number of children decreased gradually between 1995 and 2010 and remained comparatively low thereafter. According to the data provided by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, which has not been revised for years before the 2020 census, the size of the working age population declined in 2014 for the first time and entered a downward trajectory thereafter. This development has extended itself into the total population, which has shrunk in 2022 for the first time in decades. Future age development As the fertility rate in China is expected to remain below the reproductive level, the Chinese society will very likely age rapidly. According to UN data, which is based on figures slightly different from the Chinese official numbers, the share of the population above 60 years of age is projected to reach nearly 40 percent in 2050, while the share of children is expected to remain stable. This will lead to an increased burden of the old-age population on the social security system, illustrated by an old-age dependency ratio peaking at nearly 106 percent in 2090. This means that by then, ten working-age adults would have to support nine elderly people.

As of 2023, the bulk of the Chinese population was aged between 25 and 59 years, amounting to around half of the population. A breakdown of the population by broad age groups reveals that around 61.3 percent of the total population was in working age between 16 and 59 years in 2023. Age cohorts below 25 years were considerably smaller, although there was a slight growth trend in recent years. Population development in China Population development in China over the past decades has been strongly influenced by political and economic factors. After a time of high fertility rates during the Maoist regime, China introduced birth-control measures in the 1970s, including the so-called one-child policy. The fertility rate dropped accordingly from around six children per woman in the 1960s to below two at the end of the 20th century. At the same time, life expectancy increased consistently. In the face of a rapidly aging society, the government gradually lifted the one-child policy after 2012, finally arriving at a three-child policy in 2021. However, like in most other developed countries nowadays, people in China are reluctant to have more than one or two children due to high costs of living and education, as well as changed social norms and private values. China’s top-heavy age pyramid The above-mentioned developments are clearly reflected in the Chinese age pyramid. The age cohorts between 30 and 39 years are the last two larger age cohorts. The cohorts between 15 and 24, which now enter childbearing age, are decisively smaller, which will have a negative effect on the number of births in the coming decade. When looking at a gender distribution of the population pyramid, a considerable gender gap among the younger age cohorts becomes visible, leaving even less room for growth in birth figures.

Contained within the 5th Edition (1978 to 1995) of the National Atlas of Canada is a sheet that has 2 maps and an inset map. The first map shows proportion of total population in 65 to 74 and 75 plus age groups for each Census Division in 1986. An inset map shows the same information for the area from Windsor to Quebec. The second map of Canada shows proportion under 15 by Census Division. Population pyramids of age / sex distributions for 1961 and 1986 shown for each province, territory and for Canada.

In 2023, 40-59-year-olds made up the largest age group in Germany, at almost 23 million people. The most recent figures confirm that the next-largest age group was 65 years and older, at 18.89 million. Aging population With the number of people belonging to older age groups visibly outstripping younger ones, in recent years it has become clear that Germany’s population is aging. In fact, figures on age structure in Germany depict a constant trend of a slowly increasing population share aged over 65 since 2012. Meanwhile, the share of population members aged 0 to 14 years has been falling, which was also reflected in the fluctuating national birth rate in recent years. A look at the future Germany’s current total population stands at 84.7 million. While this number is predicted to increase, the same goes for the age group of 65 years and older. This means that the national population will continue to age.

In the past years, the share of people aged over 65 years grew constantly in Italy. Estimates for 2025 report that **** percent of the Italian inhabitants are aged 65 years and older. Moreover, **** percent of the residents are aged between 15 and 64 years and only **** percent are 14 years old and younger. In 2025, the Italian region with the highest share of kids up to 14 years old was Trentino-South Tyrol, with **** percent. On the other hand, **** percent of the people in Liguria were over 65 years, making it the region with the highest share of elderly among its residents. Causes of an aging population The growing share of old people in Italy is due to two main factors. First, the birth rate in the country decreased over the last years. In 2024, less than ***** children were born per 1,000 inhabitants, 2 fewer infants than in 2002. Second, life expectancy increased over the same period. A 65-year-old Italian woman could expect to have almost ** more years of life ahead in 2002, while by 2024 this number reached ****. The increase for men was even greater, with male life expectancy at 65 growing from around ** years in 2002 to **** years in 2024. Future demographic trends The aging trend in the Italian population is not expected to change in the upcoming years. Projections suggest that the country's population is going to sensibly decrease in numbers. Population forecasts for 2050 account for slightly less than ** million citizens, around * million fewer compared to 2020.

According to latest figures, the Chinese population decreased by 1.39 million to around 1.408 billion people in 2024. After decades of rapid growth, China arrived at the turning point of its demographic development in 2022, which was earlier than expected. The annual population decrease is estimated to remain at moderate levels until around 2030 but to accelerate thereafter. Population development in China China had for a long time been the country with the largest population worldwide, but according to UN estimates, it has been overtaken by India in 2023. As the population in India is still growing, the country is very likely to remain being home of the largest population on earth in the near future. Due to several mechanisms put into place by the Chinese government as well as changing circumstances in the working and social environment of the Chinese people, population growth has subsided over the past decades, displaying an annual population growth rate of -0.1 percent in 2024. Nevertheless, compared to the world population in total, China held a share of about 17 percent of the overall global population in 2024. China's aging population In terms of demographic developments, the birth control efforts of the Chinese government had considerable effects on the demographic pyramid in China. Upon closer examination of the age distribution, a clear trend of an aging population becomes visible. In order to curb the negative effects of an aging population, the Chinese government abolished the one-child policy in 2015, which had been in effect since 1979, and introduced a three-child policy in May 2021. However, many Chinese parents nowadays are reluctant to have a second or third child, as is the case in most of the developed countries in the world. The number of births in China varied in the years following the abolishment of the one-child policy, but did not increase considerably. Among the reasons most prominent for parents not having more children are the rising living costs and costs for child care, growing work pressure, a growing trend towards self-realization and individualism, and changing social behaviors.

Annual Demographic Statistics contains the following data: population estimates by age and sex for Canada, the provinces, territories, census divisions and census metropolitan areas; estimates by age, sex and marital status for the provinces and territories; and estimates of the number of census families for Canada, the provinces and territories, by type of family (husband-wife, lone-parent), size of family, age of children and age and sex of parents. It also includes statistics for the demographic components that were used to produce the population estimates (births, deaths, marriages, divorces, immigration, total emigration, internal migrations and non permanent residents) by age and sex. In addition, there are highlights of current demographic trends and a description of the methodology; population data from 1971 for provinces and territories, and from 1986 for census divisions and census metropolitan areas; and animated age pyramids, which illustrate the aging of the population. Continued by Demographic Estimates Compendium. Access data here

In 2023, just under 42 percent of Sub-Saharan Africa's population was below the age of 15; in contrast, this figure was just 18 percent in Europe & Central Asia and in North America. Across these regions, the share of the population aged 65 and over inversely correlated with the younger population, in that the regions with the largest share aged under 15 had the smallest share aged over 64, and vice versa. For most regions, the share of the population aged between 15 and 64 years ranged between 64 and 65 percent, except for Sub-Saharan Africa where it was below 56 percent. These trends can largely be explained by looking at global demographic development.

The statistic shows the total population in Japan from 2020 to 2024, with projections up until 2030. In 2024, the total population of Japan amounted to around 123.89 million inhabitants. See the figures for the population of South Korea for comparison. Total population in Japan From steadily low fertility rates to a growing elderly population, it is no secret that Japan’s population is shrinking. Population growth rates jump around a little, but are currently following a declining trend. The post-war baby boom generation is now in the 65-and-over age group, and the percentage of the population in that category is expected to keep growing, as is indicated by a high median age and high life expectancy. Japan already has the highest percentage of its population over 65 in the world, and the aging population puts some pressure on the Japanese government to provide welfare services for more people as rising numbers leave the workforce. However, the amount of jobs opened up for the younger generations by the older generations leaving the workforce means that unemployment is kept to a minimum. Despite a jump in unemployment after the global recession hit in 2008, rates were almost back to pre-recession rates by 2013. Another factor affecting Japan is the number of emigrants to other countries. The United States absorbs a number of emigrants worldwide, so despite a stagnating birth rate, the U.S. has seen a steady rise in population.

Annual Demographic Statistics contains the following data: population estimates by age and sex for Canada, the provinces, territories, census divisions and census metropolitan areas; estimates by age, sex and marital status for the provinces and territories; and estimates of the number of census families for Canada, the provinces and territories, by type of family (husband-wife, lone-parent), size of family, age of children and age and sex of parents. It also includes statistics for the demographic components that were used to produce the population estimates (births, deaths, marriages, divorces, immigration, total emigration, internal migrations and non permanent residents) by age and sex. In addition, there are highlights of current demographic trends and a description of the methodology; population data from 1971 for provinces and territories, and from 1986 for census divisions and census metropolitan areas; and animated age pyramids, which illustrate the aging of the population. Continued by Demographic Estimates Compendium. Access data here

This statistic depicts the age distribution of the United Kingdom from 2014 to 2024. In 2024, about 17.19 percent of the population in the United Kingdom fell into the 0-14 year category, 63.32 percent into the 15-64 age group and 19.5 percent were over 65 years of age. The same year, the total UK population amounted to about 67.26 million people.

As of 2023, about 10.1 percent of the population in Beijing was between 30 and 34 years of age, whereas only 1.6 percent were aged 85 and above. Beijing is the capital city of China and after Shanghai, the second largest city in the country. Beijing’s age distribution A broad age distribution of Beijing’s inhabitants reveals that a comparatively large share of the total population is of working age, while few children live in the city. This gap becomes even more obvious when looking at the age distribution by five-year groups: While the age cohorts between 25 and 39 accounts for 28 percent of the population, the age group between 0 and 19 accounts for only 14.6 percent. Two main reasons are responsible for this gap: On the one hand, many young people in their early working years move to the city and search for job opportunities; on the other hand, the motivation for having children in the city is low, mostly due to economic reasons. Many migrant workers from outside the city even leave their children behind when searching for better jobs in the city. Not only is the national average age distribution more balanced in this regard, but also that of many other larger cities. Prospects for the future In recent years, Beijing’s municipal government was determined to limit population inflow into the city. At the same time, former national measures of birth control were gradually relaxed and restrictions for migrants to take their children with them were partially lifted, which already had a positive effect on the number of children in the youngest age cohorts. However, given the very high costs of living in Beijing and its low attractiveness to family-oriented people, it is very likely that the average age of the population will increase quickly, leading to all the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly aging society.

As of January 1, 2023, the aggregate Egyptian population stood at 104.46 million inhabitants. The majority of the population was between zero and four years, adding to over 14 million children. Moreover, the population of Egypt is skewed towards the younger generations, with the population count in each older generation being lower than the previous. The elderly aged 75 years and older amounted to almost one million people. A population that doubled twice Since 1952, the Egyptian population has doubled, in 1980 and 2012, reaching almost 86.5 million. Among the reasons linked to the increasing population is better health services provided for most Egyptians since the establishment of the Egyptian Republic. In more recent years, the population growth in the country increased compared to previous years until 2014, reaching 2.34 percent before decreasing yearly. A job market that needs to absorb a young and growing population Since 2022, the number of new jobs created in the country has recovered compared to between 2018 and 2020. This is evident with the dropping youth unemployment rate in Egypt. However, the youth unemployment rate remains relatively high and stood at 15.7 percent in 2022. This poses a considerable obstacle for a young-growing population looking for work opportunities. In addition, the country registered a drop in youth participation rate in the labor force since 2013 (except for a slight increase in 2021). The rate was almost 20.6 percent in 2020 compared to 34.5 percent seven years prior. 

This statistic shows the age structure in Turkey from 2014 to 2024. In 2024, approximately 21.45 percent of the population in Turkey were aged between 0 and 14, 68.27 percent were between 15 and 64 years old and about 10.28 percent were aged 65 and older.