The U.S. State Department released a report on aging, "Why Population Aging Matters: A Blobal Perspective," produced by Rose Maria Li and others. In a foreword by Paula J. Dobriansky, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs others said "this report paints a compelling picture of the impact of population aging on nations. [providing} a succinct description of population trends that are transforming the world in fundamental ways."
The report points out that "in 1006, almost 500 million people worldwide were 65 and older' and "by 2030, that total is projected to increase to 1 billion - in every 8 of the earth's inhabitants." Global aging is a success, but population aging affects economic growth, formal and informal social support systems, and the ability of states and communities to provide resources for aging.
Below are the highlights of the report's nine chapters:
1. An aging population.
For the first time in history, people age 65 and over will out umber children under 5. Today almost 500 million people are age 65 and over, accounting for 8 percent of the world's population.
2, Increasing life expectancy
Life expectancy is at least 79 years in several more developed countries.
3. Rising numbers of the oldest old
Because of chronic disease, the oldest old, defined as people age 95 and over, have the highest population levels of disability that require long-term care, and as a result they consumer public resources disproportionately.
4. Growing burden of noncommunicable disease
In the nest 10 to 15 years, the loss of health and life in every region of the world will be greater from noncommunicable or chronic diseases, such as hear disease, cancer, and diabetes than from infectious and parasitic diseases.
5. Aging and population decline
There is an historically unprecedented demographic phenomenon: simultaneous population aging and population decline.
6. Changing family structure
The changing family structure with people living longer and fewer children has important implications of providing care to older people.
7. Shifting patterns of work and retirement
No set of issues has stimulated public discourse about population aging more than work, retirement, and economic security in old age.
8. Evolving social insurance systems
An increasing number of countries are evaluating the sustainability of old age social insurance systems. The Chinese has experienced the problem of social security in an emerging market economy.
9. Emerging economic challenges
Popul;ation aging will have dramatic effects on local, regional, and global economies and most significantly on financial expenditures, labor supply, and total savings.