Global Scans · Seniors · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Between 2000 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population aged over 60 will double from about 11 per cent to 22 per cent.

• [New] Australia's population is rapidly ageing, and estimates show Australia will need an additional 10,000 aged care beds per year to meet demand. Australian Ageing Agenda
• [New] China and the North Atlantic are projected to have old age dependency ratios over 50%, followed by 45% and 39% in Central and Eastern Europe and the United States, respectively. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Globally, the old-age dependency ratio is projected to increase from 14% in 2019 to 20% in 2035 and to 26% by 2050. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Heat-related mortality among the elderly was projected to rise by more than 250% in the 2080s under RCP8.5 and a medium population growth scenario in China, and the global meningitis incidence was projected to increase by more than 180% in severe climate change scenarios by 2100. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] By 2050, about 52 elderly people for every 100 workers in OECD countries will have a pension pressure. Greytt
• [New] The changes associated with immune system ageing observed in men are globally less extensive, but an increase in certain blood cells presenting pre-leukemia alterations was observed, a fact that could explain why some blood cancers are more frequent in older men. Fight Aging!
• [New] The workforce in Bathurst, New Brunswick is expected to massively drop in the next decade to an ageing and retiring population. CTVNews
• [New] Nam Yong-su predicted, Within 10 years, the retirement pension market could reach KRW 1,000 trillion, and the share of performance-based products like ETFs will only grow. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] The increased spending will take Australia's defence budget to 3% of GDP by 2033 under the NATO methodology that includes adjacent spending such as military pensions. CGTN
• [New] The global Longevity Clinic Tourism market, a more specific subset, was valued at USD 17.8 billion in 2024 and is forecast to reach USD 48.2 billion by 2033, growing at a robust CAGR of 14.2% from 2025. Health Tourism News
• [New] The market for longevity retreats is projected to reach an estimated $11.08 billion in 2026, demonstrating a robust compound annual growth rate of 12.9% from 2025. Health Tourism News
• [New] In China, where a decades-long policy limiting families to only one child produced one of the lowest fertility rates in the world, the IMF foresees that ageing will slow annual GDP growth by nearly two percentage points between 2024 and 2050, and boost pension spending by nearly 10% of GDP. The Guardian
• [New] Spending on old age entitlements will grow from 6% of GDP at the turn of the century to 12.7% in 2055, largely due to ageing. The Guardian
• [New] The homes people hope to age in are often unsuitable - with less than 5% of U.S. homes having basic accessibility features; and just 18% of older adults making modifications to support ageing in place. 115771908788438436647
• [New] Skilled Trades Partners expects growth within the skilled trades industry in 2026 due to increased infrastructure projects, an ageing workforce, and technological advancements. / USA CO- by U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• [New] Some companies could hit approved longevity therapies by 2027-2028. Publixly
• [New] Key Drivers: Factors Contributing to the Cardiologist Shortage An Ageing Population & Workforce: Growing Care Needs & Retirements By 2030, projections estimate that 1 in 5 Americans will be aged 65 or older, a demographic shift with significant implications for cardiovascular care. Medicus Healthcare Solutions
• [New] In a move that could reshape the future for millions of Australians, officials have hinted at plans to raise the age at which citizens can access their pensions. QT News
• [New] For many Americans, Social Security changes in April are easy to overlook, yet a cluster of deadlines and rule updates arriving this month could shape how retirees manage both their income and healthcare for the rest of the year. MARCA
• By application, the mobility assistance for elderly or disabled users segment is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 29.1% between 2026 and 2035. Precedence Research
• From 2028 onwards, there will be more people over the age of 64 than under the age of 15, at which point the ageing index will exceed 100. Default

Last updated: 29 April 2026