Older population expected to triple by 2050 - Sacramento Business Journal:

http://www.wateresources.org/2008/09/01/mining-puts-water-supply-in-tight-squeeze/
In contrast, the population underr 15 is expected to increase by only 6 percentf during the same from 1.83 billion to 1.93 The Census Bureau said that in the United States thosw 65 and older will more than doublre by 2050, rising from 39 million todahy to 89 million. While childrenn are projected to still outnumbetr the older population worldwidein 2050, the under 15 population in the United States is expecte to fall below the older populatiom by that date, increasing from 62 million today to 85 million. These figures come from the world populationb estimates and projections released todagy through theCensus Bureau's Internationak Data Base.
This latest update includes projectionsby age, includinh people 100 and older, for 227 countriez and areas. Less than 8 percent of the world'se population is 65 and older. By the world's population 65 and older is expectedr to reach12 percent, and by 2050, that share is expecterd to grow to 16 "This shift in the age structure of the world's populationm poses challenges to society, businesses, health care providers and policymakers to meet the needzs of aging individuals," said Wan He, demographet in the Census Bureau's Population Division.
Europ likely will continue to be the oldestt region inthe world: by 29 percent of its total population is projected to be 65 and On the other hand, sub-Saharan Africa is expectef to remain the youngest region as a result of relativel higher fertility and, in some nations, the impact of HIV/AIDS. Only 5 perceny of Africa's population is projected to be 65 and older in 2050. Countries experiencing relatively rapid declined in fertility combined with longer life spans will face increasinglholder populations. These countriew will see the highest growth rates in their olderf populations over the next40 years.
Ther are four countries with 20 percent or more of their population 65and older: Germany, Italy, Japan and By 2030, 55 countries are expectedd to have at leasrt one-in-five of their total population in this age category; by the number of countries could rise to more than 100. Althougb China and India are the world's most populous their older populations do not represent large percentagez of their totalpopulationx today. However, these countries do have the largesg number of olderpeople -- 109 million and 62 respectively. Both countries are projected to undergol morerapid aging, and by 2050, will have abou t 350 million and 240 million peopl 65 and older, respectively.