What characterizes an ageing population?

An ageing population is characterized by a rising average age. As life expectancy increases and birth rates decline, the proportion of older individuals within the population also grows. This results in a demographic shift where the average age of the population rises, indicating that there are more older people compared to younger people.

This trend often means that there are significant implications for healthcare, pensions, and economic productivity, as older populations tend to have different needs and contributions to society compared to younger populations.

While a decreasing birth rate can contribute to this trend, it does not alone define an ageing population. Similarly, while a high dependency ratio can occur in an ageing population, it does not specifically characterize the population being older. Conversely, a majority under 15 would indicate a younger population, which contrasts with the concept of an ageing population.