Demography and old age.

Demography is of great importance for those involved in caring for the elderly or in planning services. In this paper, current and future variations in the proportions of elderly people around the world are reviewed. The determinants of age structure are considered, and aging and aged populations are defined and discussed. The consequences of population aging extend into every sphere of life; particular attention is paid to the health service and economic implications. Attitudes to population aging and some of the special characteristics of the elderly in the West today are also considered. The paper concludes with a discussion of probable future trends in both the developed and the less developed parts of the world.