The Problem of Europe's Ageing Population

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There's no denying it--the world is getting older. 36 per cent of the EU's 380 million people are currently over the age of fifty and this figure is set to rise to 50 per cent in the next twenty-five years. The current median age in the EU is 37.7, but by 2028 the average age of an EU citizen will be 52.3. These changes in demographics will have a dramatic effect on the society in which we live and pose a major headache for future governments.

Improving health and increased life expectancy mean that today's older population is able to lead a fuller life than any generation before them. While the over fifties are now more active than in the past, there still remains a perception, created largely by the media and advertisers, that old people are 'over the hill' and of no real worth to society.

If social phenomena such as retirement gap years, silver-surfers and …