Page 7 - Jan Krueger

ACTIVE AGING - JAN KRÜGER RESEARCH
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

POLICY AND DEMOGRAPHICS ELDERLY POPULATION (OVER 65 YEARS)

IN EUROPE

Europe‘s population is getting older

- The total population in the EU is projected to increase from 511 million in 2016 to
520 million in 2070.

- The working-age population (people aged between 15 and 64) will decrease from
333 million in 2016 to 292 million in 2070.

- The old-age dependency ratio will increase. The EU would go from having 3.3
working-age people for every person aged over 65 years to only two work-
ing-age persons.

- Labour force participation rates are projected to rise from 77.5% in 2016 to 80.7%
in 2070. This increase is particularly apparent among women and older workers.

Population ageing to put pressure on public spending

- The total cost of ageing is expected to increase by 1.7 percentage points to 26.7%
of GDP between 2016 and 2070 (public spending on pensions, health care, long-
term care, education and unemployment benefits).

- Long-term care and health care costs are expected to contribute the most to the
rise in age-related spending, increasing by 2.1 percentage points.

- Public spending on pensions is expected to rise up until 2040 before returning
close to current levels by 2070.

Source: 2018 Ageing Report: Policy challenges for ageing societies
European Council - Active Aging Policy
Source: Eurostat - Ageing Europe