Among industrialized countries in 1990, Sweden had the highest pro¬portion of elderly persons, with 17.9% of its population > 65 yr. Other countries with a high proportion of elderly persons were Norway (16.3%), the United Kingdom (15.7%), and Denmark (15.6%). The USA (12.6%) and Canada (11.5%) have a greater proportion of younger persons than Hungary, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Greece. In 1990, the proportion of elderly persons in Japan was 11.5%; Japan will have the greatest proportion of elderly persons by the year 2020 (25.7%). Although the relative number of older persons is higher in developed
countries, the number of those in less developed countries is growing rapidly; by the year 2025, > % of the world’s older citizens will reside in poorer regions.
Worldwide, the older population is growing at a rate of 2.4%/yr, much faster than the overall population. Between 1975 and 2025, the percent¬age of persons > 60 yr old is projected to increase by 224%, compared with only 102% for the general population. For example, in 1950, about 200 million people in the world were > 60 yr of age. In 1975, the number was about 350 million. According to United Nations estimates, the number of older persons is expected to reach 590 million by the year 2000, rising to > 1 billion by the year 2025. Furthermore, in 1985, 23 countries had populations that included > 2 million elders; by 2025, the number of countries with this many older citizens will increase to about 50. They will include Burma, Egypt, Korea, Malaysia, and Zaire, coun¬tries not normally considered to be demographically mature.

Among industrialized countries in 1990, Sweden had the highest proportion of elderly persons, with 17.9% of its population > 65 yr. Other countries with a high proportion of elderly persons were Norway (16.3%), the United Kingdom (15.7%), and Denmark (15.6%). The USA (12.6%) and Canada (11.5%) have a greater proportion of younger persons than Hungary, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Greece. In 1990, the proportion of elderly persons in Japan was 11.5%; Japan will have the greatest proportion of elderly persons by the year 2020 (25.7%). Although the relative number of older persons is higher in developed countries, the number of those in less developed countries is growing rapidly; by the year 2025, > % of the world’s older citizens will reside in poorer regions.
Worldwide, the older population is growing at a rate of 2.4%/yr, much faster than the overall population. Between 1975 and 2025, the percentage of persons > 60 yr old is projected to increase by 224%, compared with only 102% for the general population. For example, in 1950, about 200 million people in the world were > 60 yr of age. In 1975, the number was about 350 million. According to United Nations estimates, the number of older persons is expected to reach 590 million by the year 2000, rising to > 1 billion by the year 2025. Furthermore, in 1985, 23 countries had populations that included > 2 million elders; by 2025, the number of countries with this many older citizens will increase to about 50. They will include Burma, Egypt, Korea, Malaysia, and Zaire, countries not normally considered to be demographically mature.