Ageing and Longevity

Want to reach your 100th birthday? Perhaps you should move here

People use wooden dumbbells during a health promotion event to mark Japan's "Respect for the Aged Day" at a temple in Tokyo's Sugamo district, an area popular among the Japanese elderly, September 15, 2014. The population aged over 65 in Japan reaches about 33 million, which is the highest number in the history meaning one out of every four people is 65 or older, according to the government survey. REUTERS/Yuya Shino (JAPAN - Tags: SOCIETY HEALTH SPORT) - RTR467JR

There were over 61,000 centenarians in Japan in 2015. Image: REUTERS/Yuya Shino

Joe Myers
Writer, Forum Agenda
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Ageing and Longevity

Japan has a greater percentage of people aged 100-plus than any other country -- 61,000 centenarians or 0.048% of the population, according to UN data for 2015.

The US may have more – nearly 72,000 – but its much larger population means it doesn’t even make the top 10.

 These economies have the most people aged over 100

Puerto Rico at number two is one of five Latin American nations in the top 10. This phenomenon -- why people from central and south America age so well -- is known as the 'Hispanic paradox' and is attracting more and more interest.

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The data highlights that ageing populations are not just a challenge for developed economies, but for economies around the world.

The challenge of ageing populations

The UN predicts that by 2100 there could be nearly 2.5 billion people aged over 65. This will present a series of economic challenges, especially as the number of working-age people falls for every older person – the so-called old-age dependency ratio.

Cumulative increase working age and old age population 2015-2100
Image: International Longevity Centre

This changing ratio will likely see age-related health spending increase quicker than tax revenues.

Other challenges also exist when caring for an ageing population. The Japanese Ministry of Labor, Health and Welfare estimates that the country will need an extra 1 million care workers by 2025.

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