Abstract

BERRIO VALENCIA, Marta Inés. Aging population: A challenge for public health. Rev. colomb. anestesiol. [online]. 2012, vol.40, n.3, pp.192-194. ISSN 0120-3347.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rca.2012.04.001.

At present, 8% of the world population is over 65 years of age, and this percentage is expected to increase to 20% in 20 years, with many of these people being older than 80. For example, it is estimated that in Italy there will be more than one million people over 90 in the year 2024 and, in China, it is estimated that 330 million people will be older than 65 and 100 million will be older than 80 in 2050. The growth of the elderly population is considered a global phenomenon, and Díez Nicolás even refers to «aging of the elderly population» which means that not only will there be more elderly people, but that there will be a substantial increase in the number of elderly of an older age. The demographic determinants of the aging population are lower fertility rates during the past decades owing to multiple causes, reduction in mortality due to longer life expectancy, and emigration, though to a lesser degree.

Keywords : Aging; Life expectancy; Fertility; Mortality.

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