The over-60s population will double in the coming decades
Growth by region
2020 2050
(billion people)
0.31
0.25
0.22
0.01
1.29
Oceania
Asia
America
Europe
Africa
Melanesia
Polynesia
Micronesia
Aus/NZ
Western
Central
South
South East
East
Central
South
Caribbean
North
South
West
East
East
Middle
West
North
South
North
100
200
300
(Growth rate)
2020
1.05
2050
2.08
(billion people)
Rebased to 100
Legends
2020
2030
2040
2050
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
US
Switzerland
Australia
Germany
Netherlands
Canada
Japan
UK
Healthcare expenditure is three times higher in old age
($) Per capita per year
0-19
20-64
65 & above
($) Spending ratio between different income countries
Healthcare spending increases with prosperity
(million disability-adjusted life years*)
Lifestyle diseases are on the rise globally
1990
2019
279.8
80.8
50.8
393.1
125.3
112.7
* Disability-Adjusted Life Years represent the loss of one year of full health, comprising both years lost due to premature death and years lived with a disability. They are used to measure the prevalence of diseases in populations.
100
17.60
5.50
1.80
As wealth increases, so does healthcare spending. This can be seen in the huge difference in healthcare spending between high income and low income countries.
Age groups:
Sources: The World Bank Databank, United Nations, IHME, National Library of Medicine. All data accessed as at January 2023.
Cardiovascular
Mental disorders
Diabetes & kidney
High
Upper middle
Lower middle
Low
The emerging middle class in developing countries, and increasing global prosperity, will drive increased healthcare spending.
For every $100 spent in high income countries, middle and low income countries spend between $1.80 and $17.60.