WHO estimates that the number of people aged 60 and over will nearly double from 900 million to 2.1 billion by 2050. In 2022, 14.0% of the world’s population was aged 65+. Health outcomes already reflect the shift, with about 53% of US adults aged 65 and older living with hypertension.
Key Takeaways
- WHO estimates that between 2015 and 2050, the number of people aged 60 years and over will nearly double from 900 million to 2.1 billion
- In 2022, 14.0% of the world’s people were aged 65+
- In 2022, the number of people aged 80+ in the EU was 33.3 million
- In 2022, 21.6% of people aged 65+ in OECD countries were living alone
- In 2022, 36.0% of US nursing homes adopted at least one telehealth modality
- Approximately 53% of adults aged 65+ in the US have hypertension
- Dementia costs are estimated at 1% of global GDP in 2019 (about US$1 trillion)
- WHO estimates that 15% of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental disorder
- $8.8 billion global home health care market size in 2023
- $2.1 billion global telehealth market size in 2020, rising to $XX billion by 2026 (projection)
- US federal spending on aging services totaled $2.7 billion in FY 2023 under the Older Americans Act programs
- In 2023, there were 1.6 million home health aide workers in the US
- In 2023, employment of personal care aides in the US was 3.0 million
- In the OECD, professional long-term care workers are estimated at about 10 million (across countries), highlighting staffing demands
- 66% of adults aged 65+ reported having at least one fall in the prior 12 months in a 2021 population survey (US)
Aging is accelerating fast worldwide, straining health and long term care as chronic disease and disability rise.
Related reading
01 · Category
Health & Outcomes7 stats
01
Approximately 53% of adults aged 65+ in the US have hypertension
02
Dementia costs are estimated at 1% of global GDP in 2019 (about US$1 trillion)
03
WHO estimates that 15% of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental disorder
04
WHO estimates that 80% of premature deaths are due to chronic diseases, and chronic diseases are a major cause of illness in older age
05
WHO estimates that falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide
06
In the US, 7.0% of adults aged 65+ reported current smoking in 2022
07
WHO estimates that 10 million cancer deaths occurred in 2020, and cancer risk increases strongly with age
Interpretation
Health & Outcomes Interpretation
For Health and Outcomes, the data show that chronic and age related health burdens are widespread, with 53% of US adults aged 65 and older living with hypertension and WHO estimating that 80% of premature deaths are due to chronic diseases.
02 · Category
Market & Investment6 stats
01
$8.8 billion global home health care market size in 2023
02
$2.1 billion global telehealth market size in 2020, rising to $XX billion by 2026 (projection)
03
US federal spending on aging services totaled $2.7 billion in FY 2023 under the Older Americans Act programs
04
$27.9 billion global revenue for hearing aids in 2023
05
45% of OECD countries have some form of publicly funded long-term care financing
06
In 2022, 11.6% of hospital patients in the OECD were aged 65+
Interpretation
Market & Investment Interpretation
With the global home health care market reaching $8.8 billion in 2023 and hearing aids delivering $27.9 billion in 2023, aging investment opportunities are clearly expanding well beyond a single segment while government and system support also underpins demand, including $2.7 billion in US Older Americans Act spending in FY 2023 and 45% of OECD countries providing publicly funded long-term care financing.
03 · Category
Workforce & Caregiving5 stats
01
In 2023, there were 1.6 million home health aide workers in the US
02
In 2023, employment of personal care aides in the US was 3.0 million
03
In the OECD, professional long-term care workers are estimated at about 10 million (across countries), highlighting staffing demands
04
In 2022, 31% of US home health agencies reported difficulty hiring staff
05
In 2022, caregiver burnout affected 1 in 5 family caregivers (US estimate)
Interpretation
Workforce & Caregiving Interpretation
The workforce strain behind caregiving is clear, with 1.6 million home health aides and 3.0 million personal care aides in the US but 31% of home health agencies still reporting difficulty hiring in 2022 and burnout hitting 1 in 5 family caregivers.
More related reading
04 · Category
Health Risk Factors4 stats
01
11.3% of adults aged 65+ had obesity (US, 2021–2022)
02
16.9% of adults aged 65+ reported having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (US, 2022)
03
5.8% of adults aged 65+ in the US had diabetes (2021–2022)
04
21% of adults aged 65+ in the UK reported being physically inactive (2022)
Interpretation
Health Risk Factors Interpretation
For the Health Risk Factors category, the data show that among older adults a substantial share face major health burdens, with 21% in the UK reporting physical inactivity and in the US 16.9% living with COPD alongside 11.3% with obesity and 5.8% with diabetes.
05 · Category
Industry Trends3 stats
01
In 2022, the number of people aged 80+ in the EU was 33.3 million
02
In 2022, 21.6% of people aged 65+ in OECD countries were living alone
03
In 2022, 36.0% of US nursing homes adopted at least one telehealth modality
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
For the industry trends in aging, the share of the oldest population is rising quickly as the EU reached 33.3 million people aged 80+ in 2022, while care delivery is adapting too as 36.0% of US nursing homes adopted at least one telehealth modality in 2022.
06 · Category
Industry Overview9 stats
01
WHO estimates that between 2015 and 2050, the number of people aged 60 years and over will nearly double from 900 million to 2.1 billion
02
In 2022, 14.0% of the world’s people were aged 65+
03
2.1 million people in the US are estimated to work in direct care roles (nursing, nursing assistants, home health, and personal care) within long-term care as of 2023
04
In 2023, 1.3 million nursing assistants and 2.0 million home health and personal care aides were employed in the US
05
48% of caregivers reported providing help with at least one instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) in the US (2020)
06
24% of adults aged 65+ in the UK had unpaid care responsibilities (2021)
07
46% of older adults in the UK reported living in homes not suitable for aging (2022 survey, UK)
08
31% of seniors in Canada lived in private households alone in 2021 (Statistics Canada)
09
66% of adults aged 65+ reported having at least one fall in the prior 12 months in a 2021 population survey (US)
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
As populations age, the caregiving and direct care workforce is set to expand dramatically, with the number of people aged 60 and over expected to nearly double from 900 million to 2.1 billion by 2050 alongside large care burdens today such as 14.0% of the world being 65 plus in 2022 and 1.3 million nursing assistants plus 2.0 million home health and personal care aides employed in the US in 2023.
report visual · Key figures
Aging and care pressure is rising
Older populations and health/care needs are increasing, alongside staffing challenges and higher prevalence of chronic conditions and related risks.
2015
WHO estimates that between 2015 and 2050, the number of people aged 60 years and over will nearly double from 900 millio
80%
WHO estimates that 80% of premature deaths are due to chronic diseases, and chronic diseases are a major cause of illnes
31%
In 2022, 31% of US home health agencies reported difficulty hiring staff
16.9%
16.9% of adults aged 65+ reported having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (US, 2022)
66%
66% of adults aged 65+ reported having at least one fall in the prior 12 months in a 2021 population survey (US)
source-verifiedwho.int · cdc.gov · jamanetwork.com2022
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Margot Villeneuve. (2026, February 13). Aging Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/aging-statistics
MLA
Margot Villeneuve. "Aging Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/aging-statistics.
Chicago
Margot Villeneuve. 2026. "Aging Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/aging-statistics.
Sources & references
34 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+16 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)