15. China – population pyramids (millions, by age and sex) 1950 2000 Male Female Male Female Age Source: World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision (2005). 80+ 75-79 70-74 65-69 60-64 55-59 50-54 45-49 40-44 35-39 30-34 25-29 20-24 15-19 10-14 5-9 0-4 Age 2050 Female 80+ 75-79 70-74 65-69 60-64 55-59 50-54 45-49 40-44 35-39 30-34 25-29 20-24 15-19 10-14 5-9 0-4 Male
Except for Japan, the world’s 15 oldest countries are all in Europe. The U.S. population is relatively “young” by European standards, with less than 13 percent age 65 or older, ranking as the 38 th oldest country. The aging of the baby-boom generation in the United States will push the proportion of older Americans to 20 percent by 2030; it will still be lower than in most Western European countries. The older share of the population is expected to more than double between 2000 and 2030 in Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. Aging is occurring more slowly in sub-Saharan Africa, where relatively high birth rates are keeping the population “young.”
This figure illustrates China’s shrinking young and working-age population and growing elderly population. Dramatic fertility decline (due to the success of the “one-child” policy) and improved longevity over the past two decades are causing China’s population to age at one of the fastest rates ever recorded. China now faces the prospect of having too few children to support its rapidly aging population. Meeting the health and long-term care needs of this growing elderly population will result in soaring health care costs and fewer working-age people to share the burden.
Wide disparity in birth rates. China noteworthy. Kenya. Less than replacement growth in developed economies will bring different problems.
Cardiovascular Disease – 89% of 190,000 deaths per year where in people 65 years or older. Stroke – 80% of 150,000 cases per year are over 65. Stroke is the leading cause of severe adult disability. Diabetes – 2.3 million people in the UK are diagnosed. Prevalence rises with age from one in 20 people over age of 65 to one in five in people over 85 years. Chronic Lung Disease – 900,000 people in the UK diagnosed. In 2004 there were 10,740 deaths – 92% occurred in people 65 years and older. Cancer – incidence increases with age – of the 135,000 deaths in 2004, three quarters occurred in people aged 65 and over. Arthritis – Osteoarthritis affects about 60% of men and 70% of women aged over 65. Osteoporosis – leading case of morbidity and mortality among older people. Up to 14,000 people die following osteoporotic hip fractures each year in the UK.
Parkinson’s Disease – The second most common neurodegenerative disorder (120,000 have clinical diagnosis). The incidence increases with age. The average age of onset is in the early to mid 60’s. Sensory impairments : 2 million people in the UK have a sight problem. Of these, 1 in 10 people over 75 years and 1 in 3 over 90 years has a significant visual impairment (RNIB, 2007). Over 6 million people over 60 years are deaf or hard of hearing ( RNID, 2007) . Depression: A quarter of older people living in the community have symptoms which warrant intervention. Around half of these meet the clinical criteria for a diagnosis of depression. Dementia: 683,597 people in the UK have a diagnosis of dementia of these 1 in 20 people are over 65 years and 1 in 5 people are over 80 years.
Associations between housing and health exist. They support the argument that good quality housing has a role to play in both physical and mental health