Healthcare
Mind-Bending Medicine: An Overview of Psychedelic Substances
An Overview of Psychedelic Substances
Fueled by a slew of new research, psychedelics may hold the key to treating a multitude of debilitating disorders such as addiction, PTSD, and depression.
But as an industry that has laid dormant for decades, it will need to shed its negative connotations that have limited its potential and undermined new discoveries for so long.
The infographic above showcases data from The Report on Psychedelics which explains seven of the most common psychedelic substances and examines the many mind-bending ways they could radically transform mental health as we know it.
Resurrecting a Stigmatized Industry
Although evidence of humans using psychedelics as medicine dates back thousands of years, it was not until the 1940s that psychiatrists became advocates of their therapeutic potential.
Unfortunately, recreational psychedelics became a symbol of the 1960’s counterculture movement, which contaminated the industry’s reputation. The U.S. responded by introducing the Controlled Substances Analogue Enforcement Act, deeming these drugs illegal and stymying research studies in the process.
Following some new discoveries in the early ‘90s however, psychedelics moved from the hands of festival-goers back to the labs of scientists. Since then, certain substances such as psilocybin have been granted breakthrough therapy status for treating depression by the U.S. FDA.
With these recent developments, new companies and investment opportunities are beginning to emerge in the psychedelics space. But these complex drugs are not always easy to understand—so let’s dive in.
What are Psychedelics?
Psychedelics are psychoactive substances that can alter perception, mood, and cognitive processes. There are two broad classifications of psychedelics that relate to chemical structure.
- Entheogenic Plants: Plants or fungi that produce chemical substances that can cause hallucinations
- Synthetic Drugs: Drugs created in laboratory setting to mimic the effects of entheogenic plants
Here are seven of the most common psychedelic substances explained:
| Drug | Characteristics | Legal Status | Conditions Studied | Number of Studies/trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayahuasca (Entheogenic plant) | Traditional tea used in religious or spiritual rituals, mainly in South America. | Not formally prohibited. | Major depression | 1 |
| DMT (Entheogenic plant) | Powerful hallucinogen produced by multiple plants, humans, and animals with an unusually short bioavailability period. | U.S.: Schedule I Canada: Schedule III UN: Schedule I UK: Class A | Healthy subjects | 1 |
| Ibogaine (Entheogenic plant) | Derived from the tabernanthe iboga plant, a shrub found in the rainforest of western Africa. | U.S.: Schedule I Canada: Controlled UN: Uncontrolled UK: Illegal | Drug dependence, alcoholism | 2 |
| Psilocybin (Entheogenic plant) | Naturally occurring psychedelic chemical found in more than 100 species of mushrooms. | U.S: Schedule 1 Canada: Schedule III UN: Schedule I UK: Class A | Depression, OCD, anorexia, migraines, cluster headaches, substance abuse | 40 |
| Ketamine (Synthetic) | Commonly used as an anesthetic and administered intravenously (IV) or intramuscularly (IM). | U.S.: Schedule III Canada: Schedule I UN: Uncontrolled UK: Class B | Depression, mental health disorders, suicidal ideations, pain and related conditions, healthy subjects | 925 |
| LSD (Synthetic) | First derived from ergot, a fungus that develops on grains such as rye. | U.S: Schedule I Canada: Schedule III UN: Schedule I UK: Class A | Cluster headaches, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, Healthy subjects | 12 |
| MDMA (Synthetic) | Typically associated with rave culture, as it imparts feelings of joy combined with increased energy levels. | U.S.: Schedule I Canada: Schedule I UN: Schedule I UK: Class A | PTSD, autism, alcohol use disorder, Healthy subjects | 43 |
To avoid history repeating itself, Johns Hopkins University has created the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research with the aim of enforcing strict standards of scientific rigor for the industry to follow.
On the Precipice of Change
With sound scientific evidence and standards coming into place, it’s no surprise that investors—from bestselling author Tim Ferris to several established cannabis companies—are supporting the born-again industry.
Given the industry’s foothold in recreational use, a therapeutic comeback may be a tough pill for many to swallow. However, it is possible that we are on the precipice of not only a psychedelic revolution but more importantly, a mental health one.
“Psychedelics, used responsibly and with proper caution, would be for psychiatry what the microscope is for biology and medicine or the telescope is for astronomy.”
—Stanislav Grof
Countries
Charted: The World’s Aging Population from 1950 to 2100
This graphic visualizes the world’s aging population, showing data for every country and territory around the world.
Creator Program
Charted: The World’s Aging Population from 1950 to 2100
As demographics continue to shift in the 21st century, the world’s aging population will continue to be a focal point for many global decision makers.
Most countries around the world have experienced population explosions, or are about to. Combine this with declining birth rates and falling mortality rates, and it’s clear that the global senior population will continue to reach new heights.
These graphics by Pablo Alvarez use data from the 2022 UN World Population Prospects to visualize this increasing aging population across countries.
The World’s Aging Population from 1950 to 2100
In 2022, there were 771 million people aged 65+ years globally, accounting for almost 10% of the world’s population.
This segment has been growing at an increasing rate, and it’s expected to hit 16% in 2050, and eventually 24% by 2100. Here’s what that’s projected to look like, for every country and territory.
| Country by Population Aged +65 Years | 1950 | 2022 | 2100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | 2.85% | 2.39% | 16.03% |
| 🇦🇱 Albania | 6.04% | 16.66% | 49.08% |
| 🇩🇿 Algeria | 3.49% | 6.39% | 28.83% |
| 🇦🇸 American Samoa | 2.38% | 7.27% | 45.41% |
| 🇦🇩 Andorra | 10.02% | 14.98% | 37.04% |
| 🇦🇴 Angola | 2.93% | 2.6% | 12.07% |
| 🇦🇮 Anguilla | 3.69% | 10.71% | 37.49% |
| 🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda | 4.14% | 10.63% | 35.4% |
| 🇦🇷 Argentina | 4.13% | 11.92% | 31.79% |
| 🇦🇲 Armenia | 8.17% | 13.15% | 36.13% |
| 🇦🇼 Aruba | 1.77% | 16.15% | 36.51% |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 8.17% | 16.9% | 31.38% |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 10.42% | 19.81% | 33.93% |
| 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | 6.89% | 7.11% | 30.5% |
| 🇧🇸 Bahamas | 4.76% | 8.89% | 29.58% |
| 🇧🇭 Bahrain | 2.88% | 3.76% | 21.89% |
| 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 3.9% | 6.04% | 32.56% |
| 🇧🇧 Barbados | 5.24% | 16.28% | 33.19% |
| 🇧🇾 Belarus | 8.24% | 17.18% | 30.45% |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | 11.03% | 19.73% | 32.83% |
| 🇧🇿 Belize | 3.57% | 5.09% | 29.21% |
| 🇧🇯 Benin | 7.85% | 3.06% | 11.03% |
| 🇧🇲 Bermuda | 5.71% | 20.41% | 37.73% |
| 🇧🇹 Bhutan | 2.53% | 6.25% | 33.35% |
| 🇧🇴 Bolivia | 6.11% | 4.85% | 21.75% |
| 🇧🇶 Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba | 14.22% | 13.84% | 28.94% |
| 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3.95% | 18.4% | 36.4% |
| 🇧🇼 Botswana | 4.32% | 3.65% | 17.96% |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 2.39% | 9.88% | 33.52% |
| 🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands | 8.63% | 9.95% | 32.47% |
| 🇧🇳 Brunei | 4.85% | 6.17% | 30.93% |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 6.66% | 22.38% | 37.13% |
| 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | 2.01% | 2.53% | 13.07% |
| 🇧🇮 Burundi | 3.22% | 2.48% | 13.23% |
| 🇰🇭 Cambodia | 2.67% | 5.81% | 26.43% |
| 🇨🇲 Cameroon | 3.47% | 2.67% | 11.89% |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 7.7% | 19.03% | 31.55% |
| 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | 3.67% | 5.55% | 32.63% |
| 🇰🇾 Cayman Islands | 6.05% | 8.17% | 28.75% |
| 🇨🇫 Central African Republic | 5.% | 2.51% | 11.43% |
| 🇹🇩 Chad | 4.33% | 2.01% | 9.64% |
| 🇨🇱 Chile | 3.3% | 13.03% | 36.61% |
| 🇨🇳 China | 5.04% | 13.72% | 40.93% |
| 🇨🇴 Colombia | 3.22% | 9.% | 34.49% |
| 🇰🇲 Comoros | 3.8% | 4.28% | 17.81% |
| 🇨🇬 Congo | 3.36% | 2.72% | 11.99% |
| 🇨🇰 Cook Islands | 2.94% | 11.73% | 29.75% |
| 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 2.97% | 10.83% | 36.99% |
| 🇨🇮 Cote d'Ivoire | 2.21% | 2.4% | 10.86% |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | 7.82% | 22.36% | 37.03% |
| 🇨🇺 Cuba | 4.36% | 15.81% | 36.31% |
| 🇨🇼 Curacao | 5.82% | 14.95% | 30.46% |
| 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 5.95% | 14.83% | 33.36% |
| 🇨🇿 Czechia | 8.29% | 20.64% | 26.94% |
| 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of Congo | 3.77% | 2.92% | 10.62% |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | 9.04% | 20.49% | 30.45% |
| 🇩🇯 Djibouti | 1.99% | 4.54% | 19.68% |
| 🇩🇲 Dominica | 7.67% | 9.53% | 34.28% |
| 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | 2.72% | 7.4% | 30.47% |
| 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 5.2% | 7.83% | 31.97% |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | 2.95% | 4.83% | 21.77% |
| 🇸🇻 El Salvador | 3.93% | 8.22% | 36.02% |
| 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea | 5.53% | 3.12% | 15.13% |
| 🇪🇷 Eritrea | 3.2% | 4.01% | 19.86% |
| 🇪🇪 Estonia | 10.56% | 20.58% | 34.15% |
| 🇸🇿 Eswatini | 2.68% | 4.% | 16.26% |
| 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 3.01% | 3.14% | 18.6% |
| 🇫🇴 Faeroe Islands | 7.59% | 17.92% | 26.91% |
| 🇫🇰 Falkland Islands | 8.27% | 11.08% | 35.86% |
| 🇫🇯 Fiji | 5.99% | 5.9% | 20.6% |
| 🇫🇮 Finland | 6.63% | 23.27% | 34.04% |
| 🇫🇷 France | 11.39% | 21.66% | 34.23% |
| 🇬🇫 French Guiana | 7.96% | 5.98% | 21.13% |
| 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 3.% | 10.07% | 37.85% |
| 🇬🇦 Gabon | 7.21% | 3.89% | 16.25% |
| 🇬🇲 Gambia | 2.5% | 2.43% | 16.06% |
| 🇬🇪 Georgia | 9.35% | 14.61% | 31.19% |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 9.46% | 22.41% | 33.72% |
| 🇬🇭 Ghana | 4.62% | 3.55% | 15.91% |
| 🇬🇮 Gibraltar | 6.94% | 20.84% | 37.63% |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | 6.8% | 22.82% | 37.52% |
| 🇬🇱 Greenland | 3.06% | 10.02% | 29.16% |
| 🇬🇩 Grenada | 5.12% | 10.07% | 30.54% |
| 🇬🇵 Guadeloupe | 5.51% | 20.04% | 34.45% |
| 🇬🇺 Guam | 1.11% | 11.84% | 31.19% |
| 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 2.31% | 4.91% | 28.05% |
| 🇬🇬 Guernsey | 11.96% | 16.64% | 35.4% |
| 🇬🇳 Guinea | 5.39% | 3.32% | 14.% |
| 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 3.45% | 2.82% | 14.34% |
| 🇬🇾 Guyana | 3.89% | 6.28% | 28.94% |
| 🇭🇹 Haiti | 3.64% | 4.54% | 19.07% |
| 🇭🇳 Honduras | 3.96% | 4.27% | 26.5% |
| 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | 2.48% | 20.47% | 41.64% |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | 7.81% | 20.01% | 31.85% |
| 🇮🇸 Iceland | 7.52% | 15.33% | 34.25% |
| 🇮🇳 India | 3.1% | 6.9% | 29.81% |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 1.74% | 6.86% | 25.28% |
| 🇮🇷 Iran | 5.22% | 7.62% | 33.72% |
| 🇮🇶 Iraq | 2.79% | 3.41% | 18.44% |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | 10.99% | 15.14% | 32.48% |
| 🇮🇲 Isle of Man | 13.9% | 22.29% | 31.8% |
| 🇮🇱 Israel | 4.% | 12.04% | 25.97% |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 8.09% | 24.05% | 38.19% |
| 🇯🇲 Jamaica | 3.83% | 7.45% | 44.05% |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 4.89% | 29.92% | 38.7% |
| 🇯🇪 Jersey | 12.34% | 16.22% | 30.52% |
| 🇯🇴 Jordan | 5.03% | 3.84% | 27.3% |
| 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | 6.47% | 8.04% | 19.58% |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | 5.28% | 2.87% | 16.98% |
| 🇰🇮 Kiribati | 7.13% | 3.81% | 17.33% |
| 🇽🇰 Kosovo | 5.33% | 10.19% | 43.35% |
| 🇰🇼 Kuwait | 2.88% | 4.93% | 31.56% |
| 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | 7.91% | 4.54% | 21.08% |
| 🇱🇦 Laos | 2.13% | 4.45% | 25.24% |
| 🇱🇻 Latvia | 10.12% | 21.86% | 32.86% |
| 🇱🇧 Lebanon | 7.24% | 9.89% | 32.11% |
| 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 6.34% | 4.2% | 13.44% |
| 🇱🇷 Liberia | 2.97% | 3.31% | 13.88% |
| 🇱🇾 Libya | 5.21% | 4.86% | 27.77% |
| 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | 7.89% | 19.37% | 34.79% |
| 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 8.65% | 20.8% | 32.79% |
| 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 9.71% | 15.03% | 31.55% |
| 🇲🇴 Macao | 3.11% | 13.% | 32.39% |
| 🇲🇬 Madagascar | 3.25% | 3.35% | 16.21% |
| 🇲🇼 Malawi | 3.06% | 2.61% | 15.61% |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 4.91% | 7.5% | 30.78% |
| 🇲🇻 Maldives | 3.14% | 4.78% | 35.61% |
| 🇲🇱 Mali | 2.78% | 2.38% | 11.% |
| 🇲🇹 Malta | 7.42% | 19.13% | 38.26% |
| 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands | 5.68% | 4.56% | 17.8% |
| 🇲🇶 Martinique | 5.85% | 22.77% | 37.31% |
| 🇲🇷 Mauritania | 1.44% | 3.22% | 15.03% |
| 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 3.18% | 12.79% | 33.76% |
| 🇾🇹 Mayotte | 6.61% | 2.88% | 18.15% |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | 2.99% | 8.32% | 34.88% |
| 🇫🇲 Micronesia (country) | 4.11% | 6.16% | 27.59% |
| 🇲🇩 Moldova | 7.56% | 12.98% | 26.36% |
| 🇲🇨 Monaco | 15.64% | 35.92% | 30.16% |
| 🇲🇳 Mongolia | 3.87% | 4.61% | 26.18% |
| 🇲🇪 Montenegro | 7.85% | 16.55% | 34.16% |
| 🇲🇸 Montserrat | 7.92% | 17.7% | 33.05% |
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | 2.86% | 7.72% | 29.97% |
| 🇲🇿 Mozambique | 3.13% | 2.57% | 13.43% |
| 🇲🇲 Myanmar | 3.21% | 6.82% | 23.69% |
| 🇳🇦 Namibia | 4.1% | 3.97% | 15.38% |
| 🇳🇷 Nauru | 8.98% | 2.5% | 15.87% |
| 🇳🇵 Nepal | 2.74% | 6.09% | 29.51% |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 7.76% | 20.31% | 32.89% |
| 🇳🇨 New Caledonia | 5.% | 11.02% | 31.61% |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 9.09% | 16.31% | 33.2% |
| 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 2.71% | 5.29% | 28.92% |
| 🇳🇪 Niger | .92% | 2.4% | 9.76% |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 3.% | 2.97% | 12.31% |
| 🇳🇺 Niue | 4.79% | 15.16% | 22.55% |
| 🇰🇵 North Korea | 2.72% | 11.71% | 30.49% |
| 🇲🇰 North Macedonia | 5.87% | 14.91% | 36.56% |
| 🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands | 2.95% | 10.81% | 32.09% |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | 9.52% | 18.44% | 31.65% |
| 🇴🇲 Oman | 3.05% | 2.76% | 23.96% |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 5.48% | 4.27% | 17.23% |
| 🇵🇼 Palau | 8.59% | 9.93% | 21.48% |
| 🇵🇸 Palestine | 4.77% | 3.53% | 23.44% |
| 🇵🇦 Panama | 3.57% | 8.77% | 30.03% |
| 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 1.09% | 3.19% | 16.81% |
| 🇵🇾 Paraguay | 3.73% | 6.26% | 26.51% |
| 🇵🇪 Peru | 3.43% | 8.41% | 30.33% |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | 3.56% | 5.44% | 23.38% |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | 5.22% | 18.55% | 35.69% |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 7.% | 22.9% | 36.28% |
| 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | 3.63% | 22.93% | 48.9% |
| 🇶🇦 Qatar | 3.5% | 1.52% | 15.01% |
| 🇷🇪 Reunion | 3.81% | 13.28% | 32.4% |
| 🇷🇴 Romania | 7.16% | 18.64% | 32.22% |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | 4.8% | 15.8% | 27.86% |
| 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 2.76% | 3.2% | 17.36% |
| 🇧🇱 Saint Barthlemy | 7.3% | 10.61% | 43.89% |
| 🇸🇭 Saint Helena | 8.63% | 28.66% | 32.61% |
| 🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis | 5.36% | 10.13% | 29.79% |
| 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia | 3.59% | 9.23% | 33.39% |
| 🇲🇫 Saint Martin (French part) | 4.47% | 11.14% | 30.08% |
| 🇵🇲 Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 6.34% | 17.32% | 33.4% |
| 🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 7.71% | 10.86% | 32.34% |
| 🇼🇸 Samoa | 2.52% | 5.22% | 18.75% |
| 🇸🇲 San Marino | 10.15% | 20.47% | 35.73% |
| 🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe | 3.92% | 3.76% | 15.6% |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 3.32% | 2.81% | 30.28% |
| 🇸🇳 Senegal | 3.42% | 3.14% | 16.54% |
| 🇷🇸 Serbia | 6.15% | 20.56% | 37.55% |
| 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 10.68% | 8.16% | 28.84% |
| 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 3.02% | 3.14% | 15.52% |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 2.29% | 15.12% | 36.51% |
| 🇸🇽 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 12.03% | 10.57% | 34.51% |
| 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 6.63% | 16.98% | 33.4% |
| 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 7.52% | 20.96% | 33.59% |
| 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands | 4.03% | 3.47% | 15.29% |
| 🇸🇴 Somalia | 2.6% | 2.57% | 10.75% |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 4.06% | 5.89% | 20.55% |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 2.74% | 17.49% | 44.44% |
| 🇸🇸 South Sudan | 3.48% | 2.89% | 13.11% |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 7.23% | 20.27% | 38.72% |
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 8.76% | 11.54% | 35.73% |
| 🇸🇩 Sudan | 3.03% | 3.5% | 13.28% |
| 🇸🇷 Suriname | 4.09% | 7.39% | 25.8% |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | 10.19% | 20.25% | 31.83% |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 9.49% | 19.31% | 32.61% |
| 🇸🇾 Syria | 7.66% | 4.68% | 24.62% |
| 🇹🇼 Taiwan | 2.11% | 16.71% | 37.32% |
| 🇹🇯 Tajikistan | 4.34% | 3.47% | 19.43% |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | 2.2% | 3.1% | 14.97% |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | 3.21% | 15.21% | 39.17% |
| 🇹🇱 Timor | 3.14% | 5.21% | 25.42% |
| 🇹🇬 Togo | 4.29% | 3.13% | 11.77% |
| 🇹🇰 Tokelau | 4.7% | 8.66% | 25.03% |
| 🇹🇴 Tonga | 4.6% | 6.22% | 21.65% |
| 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago | 3.93% | 11.52% | 32.67% |
| 🇹🇳 Tunisia | 4.4% | 9.02% | 31.24% |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | 3.77% | 8.64% | 33.9% |
| 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | 5.84% | 5.15% | 21.55% |
| 🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands | 5.79% | 10.34% | 28.25% |
| 🇹🇻 Tuvalu | 4.98% | 6.48% | 16.15% |
| 🇺🇬 Uganda | 2.87% | 1.69% | 14.33% |
| 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 7.54% | 18.81% | 33.2% |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 3.35% | 1.83% | 15.77% |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 10.84% | 19.17% | 32.56% |
| 🇺🇸 United States | 8.18% | 17.13% | 30.47% |
| 🇻🇮 United States Virgin Islands | 7.54% | 20.42% | 39.11% |
| 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 8.23% | 15.58% | 35.98% |
| 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | 5.87% | 5.14% | 22.24% |
| 🇻🇺 Vanuatu | 5.65% | 3.74% | 16.29% |
| 🇻🇪 Venezuela | 2.29% | 8.61% | 27.71% |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 4.13% | 9.12% | 30.02% |
| 🇼🇫 Wallis and Futuna | 1.76% | 13.47% | 32.98% |
| 🇪🇭 Western Sahara | 2.82% | 5.84% | 23.73% |
| 🇾🇪 Yemen | 3.98% | 2.66% | 18.25% |
| 🇿🇲 Zambia | 2.76% | 1.75% | 12.66% |
| 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 3.18% | 3.32% | 14.22% |
| 🌐 World | 5.13% | 9.82% | 24.03% |
Some of the places with high elderly shares today include high-income countries like Japan (30%), Italy (24%), and Finland (23%).
The lowest shares are concentrated in the Middle East and Africa. Many countries have just 2% of their population aged 65 years and older, such as Qatar, Uganda, and Afghanistan.
But over time, almost all countries are expected to see their older population segments grow. In just three decades, it is estimated that one-in-four European, North American, and Asian residents will be over 65 years of age.
By 2100, a variety of Asian countries and island nations facing low population growth are expected to see more than one-third of their populations aged 65 years or older, including South Korea and Jamaica at 44%. However, it’s actually Albania that’s the biggest outlier overall, with a projected 49% of its population to be aged 65 and older by 2100.
Passing the Generational Torch
The challenge of an aging population is set to impact all sectors of society, including labor and financial markets, demand for housing and transportation, and especially family structures and intergenerational ties.
One way to help grasp the nature of transition is to note the changing ratio between seniors and young children in the world population, as seen in the below crossover diagram:
Dropping fertility rates, in addition to improved child and infant mortality rates, are known to have played a major role in the plateauing population of children.
However, not all countries have witnessed this crossover yet, as it usually coincides with higher levels of economic development.
As countries such as India, Brazil, and South Africa reach higher levels of per capita income, they will be likely to follow down the paths of more advanced economies, eventually experiencing similar demographic fates and challenges.
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