The World is Ageing: 10 Countries with the Largest Elderly Populations, Is Indonesia Among Them?

The world is ageing, and in several countries, the elderly population has already exceeded one-quarter of the total population.

Data cited from visualcapitalist.com shows the countries with the highest percentage of residents aged 65 and over. Monaco has one-third of its population aged 65 and above. Japan follows with almost 30%, while Southern and Eastern Europe account for most of the top 15 countries.

This ranking demonstrates how population ageing has been concentrated in developed nations with low fertility rates and high life expectancy over several decades. Countries such as Italy, Portugal, Greece, and Germany now have more than one-fifth of their population aged 65 and over, making Europe the oldest region in the world by this metric.

Outside of Europe, smaller economies and territories, including Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Hong Kong, and San Marino, also rank at the top.

As the population ages, the balance between workers and retirees shifts. A smaller working-age population can slow economic growth while simultaneously increasing the demand for pensions, healthcare, and long-term care.

These demographic changes have reshaped labour markets in many countries, prompting employers to retain older workers, automate routine tasks, and find new ways to address labour shortages.

Despite the global ageing trend, Indonesia is still able to maintain a productive-age population. According to the rankings, Indonesia sits at 120th place, with an elderly population percentage of 7.29%.