Global Scans · Population · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The global population is expected to reach 8.5 billion in 2030, up 1 billion from 2016. Western economies are declining in numbers and emerging economies witnessing burgeoning growth.

• [New] India and Africa, two of the few regions of the world that will keep growing (going from 35% of the world's population today to 45% in 2050), will enjoy greater geopolitical sway. George W. Bush Presidential Center
• [New] The over-85 population will more than double by 2050, but capacity at assisted living facilities is declining due to labour shortages and regulatory constraints. George W. Bush Presidential Center
• [New] In absolute terms, America's senior population will increase more than 40%. George W. Bush Presidential Center
• [New] The second megatrend facing the United States is that, following the year 2030, the population of Americans younger than 25 will start shrinking in absolute terms. George W. Bush Presidential Center
• [New] In the coming decades, the U.S. population will grow far more slowly than ever before, and it will become much older and more racially diverse. George W. Bush Presidential Center
• [New] There has been an eightfold increase in yearly reported dengue fever cases over the last two decades, with about half the world's population at risk of infection and 100 to 400 million cases registered worldwide each year. Sierra Magazine
• [New] Population ageing is accelerating across ASEAN member states, with the number of people aged 60 and over projected to rise from 59.5 million in 2015 to 127 million by 2035. IDRC - International Development Research Centre
• [New] India is undergoing a rapid demographic transition, with its elderly population projected to exceed 347 million by 2050. Aging-US
• [New] Asia Pacific held a share of 20% in 2025 and is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 8.5% between 2026 and 2035, driven by a rising geriatric population and declining traditional family-based caregiving systems. Precedence Research
• [New] By 2050, around 80% of the global elderly population will live in low- and middle-income countries, indicating a rapid spread of population ageing to developing regions. The Chronicle-Journal
• [New] Between 2026 and 2056 the adult population of the USA actually rises a bit (the total population falls as, like the labour force aged, the young population falls substantially) but only because the rise in the 65 plus population offsets the fall in the labour force aged. Lant Pritchett
• [New] The primary phenomena that all rich industrial countries will experience over the next 30 years is not de-population - that is coming just later - but ageing. Lant Pritchett
• [New] As the population ages, the prevalence of dementia is estimated to triple by 2050, highlighting the urgent need for effective prevention and early intervention strategies. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The working-age population will decline by 8% across OECD countries by 2060, with more than a quarter of member countries expected to see declines exceeding 30%, increasing pressure on productivity and economic growth. investing.com
• [New] Malaria remains one of the most widespread infectious diseases, with roughly half of the global population at risk of infection. George W. Bush Presidential Center
• [New] By the year 2050, half of Europe's population will be at very high risk of heat stress. Deseret News
• [New] Global urbanization continues to accelerate with urban populations projected to reach 68% of the world's population by 2050, creating unprecedented demands on public transportation infrastructure and necessitating efficient automated ticketing solutions. Persistence Market Research
• [New] By 2030, the number of people aged 60 and above is projected to rise to 1.4 billion, while in Malaysia, the elderly are expected to comprise 15% of the overall population. The Star
• [New] The speed of ageing in Iran is truly remarkable, its population of 65 years and over will triple in 26 years (2023-2049) compared with 157 years in France, 100 years in the UK and 89 years in the US). PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] As stated by the WHO, Iran is one of the three countries with the most dramatic population changes, and along with Chile and China, will have more older people than the United States in near future. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] By 2059, the population of both male and female eligible donors are projected to have decreased by approximately 50%, presenting difficulties in maintaining a stable blood supply. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Taiwan's total population is projected to decline substantially while population ageing accelerates, reshaping both the size and age structure of the potential donor pool. PubMed Central (PMC)

Last updated: 21 May 2026