Demographic aspects of population aging in developed countries

There has been a dramatic growth of the elderly (aged 60+) population in the developed countries since 1950. By the year 2000, roughly 20% of the population in these countries will belong to the aged. Women far outnumber men among the elderly due to differential mortality trends between the sexes. Male life expectancy at age 60 varies from 19.1 years in Japan to 14.6 years in Hungary. Among females, the range is from 23.2 years (Canada) to 18.4 years (Romania). Mortality rates have declined dramatically in several countries since 1970 due primarily to declines in death rates from ischaemic heart disease and stroke.