In Japan, the number of people over the age of 65 has more than doubled within the past 35 years. In 2017, the population of people aged 65 or older reached approximately 35 million people, representing 27% of the population. Numbers are expected to exceed 30% in 2030.
In 1965, the population of Japan was 93.4 million with 5.6 million people aged 65 years or older.
For each person above the age of 65, there were 9.1 people between the working ages of 20 and 64 years old.
In 2012, the population of people aged 65 years and older grew to more than 30 million people, meaning each elderly person was being supported by 2.4 working aged people.
By 2050, it is estimated that one elderly person will be supported by 1.2 people between the working ages of 20 and 64 years old.