ABSTRACT
AGE STRUCTURE OF THE POPULATION Th e population of the UK was 58 789 194 according to the 2001 Census. ➤ Of this total, 18.4% were over pensionable age. ➤ Ethnic minority elders comprise approximately 7% of the population. ➤ Similar age shift s are occurring in other First World nations and in developing ➤ countries. Th e world’s older population (over 65 years) is growing at a rate of 2.4% ➤ annually. In developed countries there are 165 million older people – this is expected to ➤ increase to 257 million by 2025. Sweden has the highest number of older people of the major countries of the ➤ world (17%) closely followed by the UK, Italy, Belgium and France (16%). Th e fastest growing segment of the older population is the ‘old old’ (over ➤ 80 years).
