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Older people seek further learning to compensate for what they missed in their formal education. It is useful to identify who, and how many, may become 'customers' for complementary learning.

They were a minority of the population. Due to a simultaneous reduction in birth rates, they are becoming a much larger proportion of the population. Most are retired or unavailable for employment, and contribute proportionally less to the national budgets. Governments come under pressure to augment the proportion of their resources to be allocated to meet the needs and desires of older learners.

The problem is different in diverse countries, making it worth while to examine comparative changes in their population size and growth and in the compositon of these. Here we also consider the proportion who are available for work, e.g. those between 20 and 60 years old, the 'mature', the 'young', less than 20, and the 'old', greater than 60. The data show how many we are now, and are anticipated over the next half century, using data for the period since 1950.

The European countries, examined so far, are for all with populations exceeding 1 million, and those of North America.

Click on any graph below for a larger image and a lead into more detail

  
 

Europe and North America - population trends. The major feature distinguishing the ‘New’ from the ‘Old’ World is the apparently unwavering increase in the populations of the three principal North American countries. Statisticians predict on the assumption that growth since 1950 will continue broadly at the same rate. International comparative data can be found on: http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbagg.html

Largest European Countries -The populations of 5 largest countries. Most have begun to shrink in size. Russia began to do so around 1990. Others e.g. France will do so within the next two decades and UK a little later.

Age and Gender Profiles Traumatic events are quickly reflected in birth rates.They can be readily identified by current age groups. The maxima have occurred at different times showing that pressures to satisfy social needs were affected by contemporary events. The proportion of women to men varies from one country to another but men are catching up.

Proportions of young - adult - old -Over 50% are aged 20-60, 'adults'... But the over 60s are catching up. By 2050 they will represent more than half the population of Bulgaria and in no country, in Europe or N.America, will 'adults' remain over 50%. Under 20s will be by far the smallest group .

 

 

  
 

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