Japan's population is aging faster than any other country on the planet. The population of those 65 years or older roughly doubled in 24 years, from 7.1% of the population in 1970 to 14.1% in 1994. The same increase took 61 years in Italy, 85 years in Sweden, and 115 years in France.
Asia faces a problem: Its population is aging faster than any other continent's. A growing percentage of people in Japan, South Korea and China are over 65, and those countries' economies are suffering because of a lack of available workers. Governments are struggling to find the money to support retirees.
Countries with the largest percentage of total population over 65 years 2022. In 2022, Monaco was the country with the highest percentage of total population that was over the age of 65. Monaco has the oldest population of the world with 36 percent of Japanese being over 65.
According to the IHME study, seniors in South Korea and Japan are able to delay the aches and complaints of aging by about ten years compared to countries near the mean—like the United States.
China's aging population is caused by a low birth rate together with prolonged human life expectancy.
The main cause of South Korea's aging is low fertility. Decreased fertility rates tend to cause lower marriage rates, more delayed marriages, and increased aging.
Birthrates are declining in many developed countries, but in Japan the issue is particularly acute because it has the world's second highest proportion of people aged 65 and over, after the tiny state of Monaco, according to World Bank data.
Other Benefits Of Living In a Colder Climate
Colder weather can keep us looking younger as well, according to some experts. Cold weather can act as a tonic or astringent, reducing acne and keeping pores less visible.
Latinos age more slowly at the molecular level than other ethnic groups, according to a new study, the L.A. Times and Raycom News Network report.
The good news about cold weather
Firstly, you're likely to get less sun exposure, and therefore experience less of the sun damage that causes ageing. You're also less likely to get flare-ups triggered by sweat or heat. Cold can lessen the effects of inflammation, and reduce puffiness.
Aging and ageing are the same word spelled in two different ways. The UK keeps the “e” when adding a suffix, while North Americans drop the “e”. Use aging when writing American English; use ageing in The UK, New Zealand, and Australia.
Australia's older population
Australia's population is ageing due to increasing life expectancy and declining fertility rates. Both the number of people at the older ages is growing and older people are representing an increasing share of the total population (CEPAR 2021).
"These high UV levels put Australians at particular risk of photoageing, especially when combined with Australians' traditionally outdoor, sun-seeking lifestyle and a predominantly fair-skinned population," they added. They weren't sure exactly what the extent of that risk was.
Certain racial groups are more likely to develop wrinkles at a later stage than others. Other racial groups may be more prone to sagging skin or age spots. However, how a person ages is not necessarily dependent on their race. A person will age in their own way, regardless of their racial background.
The average age in global comparison
Among the 126 countries evaluated here, the USA are in 50th place with an average age of 38.5 years, led by Japan at 48.6 years. Niger has the lowest average age at only 14.8 years.
Darker skin can show age more slowly because it has more melanin (dark pigment that determines sun sensitivity). The more melanin you have, the more protection you have against photoaging, or skin damage from too much exposure to the sun's rays.
According to a new study, when you look significantly younger than your chronological age, it's not just an optical illusion, your skin is actually aging a slower rate than normal.
A new genomic study has revealed that Aboriginal Australians are the oldest known civilization on Earth, with ancestries stretching back roughly 75,000 years.
If you're looking to live for many years after retirement, however, scientists recommend looking for a more frigid area up north. New research finds that moderately cold temperatures increase a person's longevity and decrease susceptibility to age-related diseases.
Advocates of reducing greenhouse gases typically assert that a warmer climate would increase disease and deaths worldwide. But fortunately those zealots are wrong. In fact, a warmer world would be world with fewer fatalities. Cold, not heat, is the biggest killer as more and more researchers are finding.
(MORE: 50 States' Biggest Snow Days)
If you're relatively petite, not only does a low BMI heighten your response to cold, but so does your overall surface area. According to O'Brien, smaller people lose heat more quickly.
This exceptional longevity is explained by a low rate of obesity and a unique diet, characterized by a low consumption of red meat and a high consumption of fish and plant foods such as soybeans and tea.
Housing prices and education costs are particularly high, which can make it difficult for families to afford children. Japan's high cost of living, limited space, and lack of city-based child care services make it challenging to raise kids, which results in fewer couples having kids.
Korea is becoming an aging society at a fast rate. It is expected it will become a super-aging society by 2025 where more than 20 percent of the total population is aged 65 years and older. In 2021, the country's birthrate dropped to 0.81 percent.