SMARTER • LIFESTYLE
The impact of living longer THE ADVANCING AGE OF MANY AUSTRALIANS PRESENTS NUMEROUS IMPLICATIONS IN TERMS OF WELFARE, PENSION AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS. BUT WHERE SOME SEE CHALLENGES, OTHERS SEE OPPORTUNITY. Declining fertility rates and rising
older population is also projected
life expectancy means the world’s
to change.
population is getting older.
By 2047, it is anticipated there will be
A landmark report ‘Ageing in the 21st
just under 3.4 million people aged 65–
Century: a celebration and a challenge’
74, people aged 75–84 will account for
published by the United Nations
35%, or 2.6 million of the population,
Population Fund in 2012, estimated
and 1 in 5 older people will be aged
that around one in nine people of
85 and over. That’s 20%, or 1.5 million
the world's population of 7.7 billion
of the population.
were over 60.
The impact of our ageing population is
According to the Australian Institute
likely to be both positive and negative.
of Health and Welfare (AIHW), there
On the positive side, population
were 3.8 million Australians aged 65 and over, comprising 15% of the total population, in 2017.
ageing has opened up new markets, brought more experienced workers, a growing team of custodians of culture,
And the number and proportion
and caregivers of grandchildren.
of older Australians is expected to
On the negative side, the ARC Centre
continue to grow.
of Excellence in Population Ageing
fewer people are available to participate in economic activity • Increases in health costs as a result of higher utilisation of health services as the population ages and higher expectations of health
By 2057, it is projected there will be
Research (CEPAR) says there are a
care resulting from technological
8.8 million older people in Australia,
number of economic and social issues
advances
that’s 22% of the population.
occurring as a result of the country’s
The AIHW says as Australia's
older population, including:
as the ration of contributors to
population ages, the profile of the
• Slower economic growth given
beneficiaries decreases
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SMARTER COMMUNITIES
• Unsustainable pension schemes
