Why is that? It’s because people are having less children. The life expectancy age is high too, at 80 years. When the midyear population aged 15-64 retire, the elderly support ratio will go from four working aged people per elderly person in 2010 to two working aged people per elderly person in 2050. The elderly people will begin to die off, and because of their significant numbers, it will result in a drop in the population. The natural growth rate is expected to be negative 0.2. (US Census Bureau) This represents the predicted Stage Five in the demographic transition. But before the elderly begins to die, the dependency load will be high. The children of today in the future will have to take care of the future large adult population above retirement age. This would mean longer working hours for the younger population.