Figure 1.1 (continued)
age 25 is measured on the vertical axis, the percentage aged 60 and older on the horizontal axis, and the percentage aged 25–59 can be represented by diagonal gridlines. Only the 50 percent gridline is shown. In 1950, no Asian country had a large population concentration in the prime working ages. India’s population was somewhat younger than that of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and Japan’s age structure was very similar to
the PRC’s.
Asia’s age structure changed very dramatically between 1950 and 2010 (second panel). During the 1950s and 1960s, most Asian countries except Japan became younger, but after that the percentage under age 25 declined very markedly, while the percentage in the prime working ages increased. The percentage aged 60 and older also increased in many countries, most notably in Japan.
In the coming decades, the age structure will continue to change (third panel). The percentage of children will continue to decline, although in many countries the decline is expected to be modest. The dominant change will be a shift from working ages to old age. The percentage aged 25–59 will decline while the percentage aged 60 and older will rise to unprecedented levels. Japan is projected to have the oldest population in 2050, with 44 percent aged 60 or older. The 60 and older population of the Republic of Korea is projected to reach 40 percent by 2050.