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Census Analysis Finds Global 65-Plus Population Now Exceeds Children Under 5

Falling birth rates and longer lifespans drove the demographic crossover, with seniors projected to keep rising sharply through 2060, Census data show.

  • People age 65 and older now outnumber children five and younger globally for the first time in recorded history, according to a new report released by the Census Bureau.
  • Falling birth rates and longer lifespans have driven this demographic shift, with the report stating that "the fact that people are living longer is one of the primary driving factors."
  • Globally, the share of people 65 and older is forecast to nearly double from 10.5 percent to 19.6 percent by 2060, as the world adds another 2 billion people.
  • Africa is expected to more than quadruple its older population from 60 million to 249 million by 2060, overtaking Europe's projected 214 million older residents.
  • Census contributor Andrew Scott said this shift "could force societies to rethink old age as an economic asset rather than simply a cost," provided preventive health is prioritized.
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26 Articles

For the first time in history, the number of people aged 65 and over exceeded the number of children under five.

·Kyiv, Ukraine
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연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency
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Seoul Shinmun (서울신문)Seoul Shinmun (서울신문)
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(San Francisco = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kwon Young-jeon = For the first time in human history, the global elderly population aged 65 and over has surpassed the number of children aged 5 and under.

·Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
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Political Wire broke the news in New York, United States on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
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