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Pensioners will outnumber the under fives worldwide for the first time within a decade.
Improvements in healthcare, diet and lifestyle across the world have fuelled an unprecedented growth in the number of those aged 65 and older.
There are currently around 506 million over-65s - or seven per cent of the world population Under-fives account for about nine per cent.
But falling fertility rates and increased longevity mean by 2019 the trend will have reversed, say analysts at the US census department.
By 2019, 1.9million will turn 65 each month compared with 870,000 people a month at the moment.
By 2040, the proportion of older people will have doubled to 14 per cent, according to the Ageing World report.
The study warns an ageing population will push up pension and healthcare costs. It will also put pressure on healthcare, housing and social services and place children and grandchildren under strain to provide practical and financial support.
Reader views (2)
In mine and my friends' experience longer life and better health is directly inverse to how much time they want to spend with the grandchildren!
- Roz, France, 21/07/2009 12:01
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Reports and coverage like this are silly. We are all living longer and getting 5-10 years of extra life. Hooray! Are these extra years plagued by ill health? I don't think so. We need to compare the number of dependent children with the number of dependent older people to understand the truth.
As long as we are productive for our extra years this is all good.
- Phil Taylor, London, England, 21/07/2009 09:10
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