The report, titled “An Aging World: 2015,” asserts that while people under 5 will be outnumbered by those over 65 before 2020, the divide will continue to grow — and by 2050, those over 65 will more than double while the population under 20 will remain stagnant.
“For the first time in human history, people aged 65 and older will outnumber children under age 5,” the report states. “This crossing is just around the corner, before 2020,” says the report.
“These two age groups will then continue to grow in opposite directions,” according to the report. “By 2050, the proportion of the population 65 and older (15.6 percent) will be more than double that of children under age 5 (7.2 percent). This unique demographic phenomenon of the ‘crossing’ is unprecedented.”
The report also listed the world’s “oldest countries,” based on the percentage of their population over 65, with Japan coming out on top. The youngest countries were found in the Persian Gulf.
“The percentage of the population aged 65 and over in 2015 ranked from a high of 26.6 percent for Japan to a low of around 1 percent for Qatar and the United Arab Emirates,” said the report.
“Of the world’s 25 oldest countries and areas in 2015, 22 are in Europe, with Germany or Italy leading the ranks of European countries for many years, including currently.”
The report casts the blame for the rising ages on globally declining fertility rates.
“In many countries today, the total fertility rate (TFR) has fallen below the 2.1 children that a couple needs to replace themselves,” says the report. “In 2015, the TFR is near or below replacement levels in all world regions except Africa.”
In light of the report, Fox News should be able to maintain its viewer base indefinitely.
