Analytics, Baltic, Demography, Economics, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Lithuania, Society

In particular, the proportion of persons aged 80 or over among the total population is expected to more than double, from just over 5 % in 2014 to more than 12 % by 2080. This demographic trend confronts the EU with major challenges, notably regarding the economic situation and social inclusion of older people. Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, said.

In 2014 in the EU, 18.5 % of the population was aged 65 or over, including around 5.1 % aged 80 or over. Member States with the highest proportions of population aged 80 or over were Italy (6.4 %), Greece (6.0 %), Spain and France (5.7 % each). Conversely, the lowest proportions were found in Ireland and Slovakia (both with 3.0 % of their population aged 80 or over) as well as in Cyprus (3.1 %).

The proportion of the EU population aged 80 or over has risen over the last 15 years, from 3.5 % in 2001 to 5.1 % in 2014. Population projections show that the EU population will age further: by 2080, almost 1 out of every 8 persons (12.3 % of the population) would be aged 80 or over.

Slovakia (now the Member State with the lowest proportion) is projected to become the Member State with the highest share of persons aged 80 or over (16.3 %), followed by Portugal (15.8 %), Germany (15.1 %) and Poland (14.9 %). At the opposite end of the scale, Ireland (with 7.4 % of the population expected to be aged 80 or over by 2080), Lithuania (8.9 %) and Latvia (9.5 %) would have the lowest shares.

Across Member States in 2013, life expectancy for women at 65 ranged from less than 18 years in Bulgaria to more than 23 years in France and Spain. For men it varied from less than 14 years in Latvia to more than 19 years in France, Spain and Luxembourg. The biggest differences in life expectancy at 65 between men and women were registered in Estonia and Lithuania (5.1 years each) as well as in Latvia (4.7 years), and the lowest in the United Kingdom (2.3 years), Sweden (2.5 years), Denmark and Ireland (both 2.7 years). At EU level, life expectancy in 2013 at the age of 65 was 21.3 years for women and 17.9 years for men (or a difference of 3.4 years).