ABSTRACT
Over the past two decades there have been spectacular and profound changes in the population structure of the western world. The most profound change has been the ageing of the population. This trend will accelerate and, in OECD countries between 1980 and 2025, the proportion of over 65s will grow by over 50 per cent, from 11.5 per cent to nearly 18 per cent. In the EEC countries the number of over 65s will grow from 34 million in 1985 to 51 million in 2000.
