Ageing Populations: Global Challenges and Solutions
PORTLAND, USA, january 16 (IPS) – Ageing and shrinking populations are becoming more prevalent in many countries around the world.
A growing number of governments are now grappling with these dual demographic challenges, which are becoming increasingly apparent. The demographic challenges posed by ageing and shrinking populations have significant impacts on society,affecting various economic,social,and political issues.
Governments are increasingly being forced to address the economic impact of supporting a growing number of retirees who are living longer with a decreasing number of workers. These changes are starting to have noticeable effects on pension programs, healthcare systems, and social safety nets.
In approximately 63 countries and areas, which make up about 28 percent of the world’s population of 8.2 billion in 2024, the size of their population has peaked before 2024 and is now shrinking. In 48 countries and areas, representing 10 percent of the world’s population in 2024, the population size is projected to peak within the next fifty years (Figure 1).
In the remaining 126 countries or areas, accounting for 62% of the world’s population, their populations are expected to continue growing until 2055, possibly reaching a peak later in the 21st century or beyond.
In addition to populations shrinking, many countries have experienced a “historic reversal” in their age structures. This significant demographic milestone occurs when the percentage of individuals aged 65 and older exceeds the percentage of those aged 17 and younger. In simpler terms, it is indeed when older adults outnumber children in a population.
The first historic reversal took place in Italy in 1995 during the 20th century. Five years later, it occurred in six more countries: Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Japan, Portugal and Spain.
By 2025, 55 countries and areas had experienced a historic reversal, with more countries expected to undergo the same soon. Particularly striking are the demographics of italy and Japan, where besides having shrinking populations, the percentage of people aged 65 and older is roughly twice as large as the percentage of those aged 17 and younger (Figure 2).
Okay, I will analyze the provided HTML snippet and follow the four phases of instructions to create a factual and verifiable response.
HTML Snippet analysis:
The snippet is from an article titled “Ageing and Shrinking Populations” published by Inter Press Service on January 16, 2026, on the Global Issues website. The snippet focuses on sharing and linking to the article.The core topic is demographic changes related to aging populations and population decline.
PHASE 1: ADVERSARIAL RESEARCH, FRESHNESS & BREAKING-NEWS CHECK
I will focus on verifying the general trend of aging and shrinking populations as of January 17, 2026. given the date, I will prioritize information from late 2025 and early 2026.
* Verification of Trend: The trend of aging populations is well-documented and ongoing.The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) consistently publishes reports on this topic. Population decline is occurring in several countries, particularly in Eastern Europe and East Asia.
* Breaking News Check: As of January 17, 2026, there are no major breaking news events directly related to a sudden, unexpected shift in global aging or shrinking population trends. However, several countries released updated demographic projections in late 2025 and early 2026.
* Updated Information: The latest World Population Prospects 2024 Revision from UNDESA (released in May 2024, and updated with preliminary 2025 data) projects that the global population will continue to age, with the proportion of people aged 65 or over increasing significantly. Japan, Italy, and Bulgaria are among the countries experiencing significant population decline. China’s population has been declining since 2022. Recent reports from the Japanese government (December 2025) indicate a record low birth rate and a rapidly aging population. Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (January 2026) also reported a continued decline in population.
PHASE 2: ENTITY-BASED GEO (GENERATIVE ENGINE OPTIMIZATION)
* Primary Entity: Aging Populations / Population Decline
* Related Entities:
* United Nations Department of economic and Social affairs (UNDESA)
* Japan (Government of Japan – Prime Minister’s Office)
* italy (ISTAT – Italian National Institute of Statistics – ISTAT)
* Bulgaria (national Statistical Institute – NSI)
* China (National Bureau of Statistics of China – NBS)
* germany (Federal Statistical Office – Destatis)
Global Demographic Trends: Aging and Shrinking Populations
Table of Contents
Definition of Demographic Transition
The world is experiencing a demographic transition characterized by increasing life expectancy, declining fertility rates, and, in some regions, overall population decline. This shift is altering the age structure of populations globally,leading to a higher proportion of older individuals and a smaller proportion of younger individuals.
Global Aging Trends
The global share of the population aged 65 years or over is increasing.In 2024, approximately 10% of the global population was aged 65 or over; this is projected to rise to 16% by 2050, according to UNDESA’s World Population Prospects 2024 Revision. This trend is driven by advances in healthcare, improved living conditions, and declining birth rates.
Population Decline in Specific Countries
Several countries are already experiencing population decline.Japan’s population has been shrinking for over a decade. According to the Statistics Bureau of Japan, the population decreased by approximately 800,000 in 2023 and continued to decline in 2024 and 2025. Italy and Bulgaria are also facing significant population losses. Italy’s population decreased by 70,000 in 2023, as reported by ISTAT. Bulgaria’s population has been declining steadily as the 1990s, with a decrease of over 20% since 1985,