For the first time in recorded history, in 2025 the global population of people over the age of 65 surpassed that of children aged 0 to 5

This milestone was reached sooner than many demographers had predicted, as declining birth rates accelerate population aging: 

in 2023, over 71% of the global population lived in countries with fertility rates at or below the replacement level of approximately 2.1 children per woman, compared to 45% a decade earlier.

 By 2060, the number of people aged 65 and older is projected to reach around 2 billion, accounting for 19.6% of the global population and more than half of the anticipated population growth. 

South Korea is set to become the oldest nation, with 41% of its inhabitants aged 65 or older.