The World’s Fastest-Aging Countries

What We're Showing

The world is aging fast. In many advanced economies, the number of retirees is climbing while the working-age population shrinks, reshaping labor markets, public spending, and long-term growth prospects.

This Markets in a Minute visualization, created in partnership with Terzo, ranks countries by their old-age dependency ratio in 2024.

Key Takeaways

• Japan remains the world’s oldest country, with over half as many seniors as working-age adults.
• Southern and Western Europe dominate the top ranks, with Portugal, Finland, and Italy close behind.
• The United States, Canada, and Australia are aging more slowly—but all now exceed a ratio of 25%.