The Ageing World

Introduction

It is now common knowledge that developed countries are all greying, and that in time developing countries will head the same way. Both seem to be inevitable and following that many are now seriously involved in forecasting the future. some of the related forecasts that we come across are:

By 2050 the developed world will shrink to a mere 10 percent of the world population down from a comfortable 24 percent in 1950.¹

By that time the median age of developed countries will be around 60 years.²

In 1950, population-wise the 25-member European Union was double of its Muslim neighbours, not counting those in Central Asia of the erstwhile Soviet Union. By 2050 it will shrink to a mere one-third. The alien groups will be much younger, ...