This
crossover occurred between 2020 and 2025, with 852 million seniors making up
10.5 percent of the global population of 8.13 billion, edging out the share of
young children.
Dropping fertility rates below replacement level in over 71 percent of countries, including China and India, combined with longer lifespans from better health care, drove the change.
By 2060, seniors could reach 2 billion and nearly 20 percent of the world, raising questions about pensions, healthcare, and workforces as fewer young people support more retirees.