Disruptive Demographics

Aging is a disruptive force in many countries and economies. Imagine:

• There are more walkers and wheelchairs than baby carriages in parts of Europe; 
• People over 60 in China are more numerous than the entire population of Russia; 
• Japan’s population by mid-century may reduce by half and nearly a third will be over 65; 
• 77 million American baby boomers, born between 1946-1964 are now turning 63 nearly one every seven seconds; and, 
• Even in ‘young’ South American and African nations, there are concentrations of older adults that rival or even surpass the oldest countries of Europe.

But – global aging is not simply a story of ‘more.’ The new disruptive demographics of aging is not your grandfather's old age – many older people have:

• Vast cultural, lifestyle, and economic diversity within and across nations; 
• Fewer family caregivers and working age adults to support an aging society – either because of fewer children or the migration of younger people to urban centers leaving an older rural population behind; 
• Greater expectations of Japan's Dankai and baby boomers in North America and Europe to not only live longer but to live better than previous generations; 
• Higher expectations and lifelong experience with the promise of technology to improve the quality of life – from accessing healthcare, connecting to loved ones, to remaining engaged rather than ‘retired’ from society; and,
• Better health, more education and income than their parents and grandparents. 

Read more about the impact of disruptive demographics on society, business strategy and innovation on the AgeLab Director's blog: Disruptive Demographics