We now have seven billion people on our planet—and many of them
are old. In 2005, the average age of our population was 28.1 years.By 2050, it will be 37.8, and in the
most developed countries it will have surpassed 45 years. Societies in Japan and Southern Europe are
aging so fast their populations are shrinking. Meanwhile, much of Africa and Asia will continue to see population growth.