Category: Ageing societies

Growing older – the impact of an ageing population on society.

Growing older – the impact of an ageing population on society.

This blog will attempt to address these reasons as well as reasons for why an ageing population may cause problems for our societies. The first section will look at why populations are ageing, the second will look at the older populations in the “modern” workforce, and finally the third section will look at the impact that an ageing population has on healthcare and the economy.

Positive ageing

Positive ageing

by Isabelle StrettonIn recent decades, a combination of declining fertility rates and increased life expectancy as a result of improved contraception, family planning and healthcare, have contributed to ageing populations around the globe. Other factors, such as...

How big an issue is the UK’s ageing population?

How big an issue is the UK’s ageing population?

The UK’s population is currently ageing at a fast rate, along with many other countries worldwide. In 1997 around one in every six people in the UK were of an age of 65 and over whereas in 2017 the number had increased to one in every five people, and this is expected to continue to rise (Office for National Statistics). As a result of these changes in the UK’s demography, the allocation of economic resources will have to be adjusted accordingly, putting strain on the government as these are stretched ever thinner.

Old… but still gold!

Old… but still gold!

by Christie Lawrence The words 'ageing population' seem to have been growing in popularity in recent years, with article after article deeming certain countries to be 'demographic time-bombs'. However, it is not always made clear what 'ageing population'...

How old do we actually want to be?

How old do we actually want to be?

The world’s population is ageing fast. People are living longer. Declining fertility rates are adversely affecting the number of young people in the population. Over 60 countries are now said to have ‘ageing populations’, meaning more than 8-10% of their populations are over the age of 60 (Phillipson, 2013). Many see this as a good thing. The fact that we are living longer is symbolic of human progress and advancement. The effects of fantastic innovations across medicine and healthcare. Others are less optimistic, focusing on the questions raised by ageing populations regarding state provisions in healthcare and pensions.

You can forget about your retirement benefits

You can forget about your retirement benefits

Perhaps one of the best things to look forward to in life is retirement. You have worked for decades, maybe even had a family, and now you get to spend the rest of your life living carefree. Sounds good, right? But what if the programs you’ve spent your entire life paying for so when you retire you can rely on them (social security, pensions, etc.) are being threatened because there are simply too many people in retirement? This may sound crazy now, but our population is indeed ageing rapidly. As populations live longer, resources will be even more scarce, and funding for social programs aimed at the elderly will have to increase.