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    Countries With the Oldest Populations, Most People Over 65

    Press RoomBy No Comments6 Mins Read

    Global life expectancy is on the rise, meaning a greater percentage of the population than ever before is made up of the elderly.

    But not every country has experienced this elder boom equally.

    The World Bank Group gathered data in 2024 on the percentages of populations aged 65 or older in different countries. The data overwhelmingly indicated that European countries have the most elders in their populations per capita. Japan was the only non-European entry in the top 25 countries.

    In the United States, which came 39th in the data, 18% of the population is 65 and older. While this outpaces the global population’s percentage of 10%, it is significantly lower than the countries with the highest percentages.

    A 2025 study by Brown University also found that Europeans are more likely to live longer than Americans, regardless of wealth level. The study’s author, health economist Irene Papanicolas, said systemic issues in the US, such as “economic inequality or risk factors like stress, diet or environmental hazards” contribute to lower life expectancy.

    Using the World Bank Group report, which drew on figures from the United Nations Population Division, we listed the top 25 countries with the largest percentages of the population aged 65 and older. The data also indicated significant elderly populations in territories such as Puerto Rico and regions such as Hong Kong, but we have only included countries.

    See the 25 countries with the highest percentage of elders in their populations, listed from No. 25 to No. 1.

    25. In the Netherlands, 20.50% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Buildings on a waterway in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

    Amsterdam.

    Sam Tanno/Shutterstock

    In the Netherlands, 19% of men are 65 and older, while 22% of women are 65 and older.

    24. In Belgium, 20.56% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Buildings in Brussels, Belgium.

    Brussels, Belgium.

    xbrchx/Shutterstock

    In Belgium, 19% of men and 22% of women are 65 and older.

    23. In Austria, 20.61% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Historic building in Vienna, Austria.

    Vienna, Austria.

    Travel Smart Seniors/Shutterstock

    Among men in Austria, 18% are 65 and older, while 23% of women are 65 and older.

    22. In Liechtenstein, 20.73% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Church and houses in front of a mountain in Schaan, Liechtenstein.

    Schaan, Liechtenstein.

    Allard One/Shutterstock

    In Liechtenstein, 19% of men are 65 and older, while 22% of women are.

    21. In Sweden, 20.75% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Buildings in Stockholm, Sweden.

    Stockholm, Sweden.

    kavalenkava/Shutterstock

    In Sweden, 19% of men and 22% of women are 65 and older.

    20. In Czechia, 20.85% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Historic buildings in Prague, Czechia.

    Prague.

    Sven Hansche/Shutterstock

    In Czechia, 18% of men are 65 and older, while 24% of women are.

    19. In Denmark, 20.87% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Boats on a waterway in front of buildings in Copenhagen, Denmark.

    Copenhagen, Denmark.

    Eyesonmilan/Shutterstock

    Among men in Denmark, 19% are 65 and older, while 22% of women are 65 and older.

    18. In Hungary, 20.99% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Buildings in Budapest, Hungary.

    Budapest, Hungary.

    A.Pushkin/Shutterstock

    In Hungary, 17% of men and 25% of women are aged 65 and older.

    17. In Spain, 21.15% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Buildings in Barcelona, Spain.

    Barcelona, Spain.

    ByDroneVideos/Shutterstock

    In Spain, 19% of men are 65 and older, while 23% of women are 65 and older.

    16. In Estonia, 21.30% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Buildings on a waterway in Tallinn, Latvia.

    Tallinn, Latvia.

    Xseon/Shutterstock

    In Estonia, 16% of men are 65 and older, while 26% of women are 65 and older.

    15. In Latvia, 21.41% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Buildings in Riga, Latvia.

    Riga, Latvia.

    Dmitry Rukhlenko/Shutterstock

    In Latvia, 16% of men and 27% of women are 65 and older.

    14. In Slovenia, 21.77% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Houses on a river in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

    Ljubljana, Slovenia.

    Mazur Travel/Shutterstock

    In Slovenia, 19% of men and 25% of women are 65 and older.

    13. In Bulgaria, 22.03% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Buildings in Sofia, Bulgaria

    Sofia, Bulgaria.

    saiko3p/Shutterstock

    In Bulgaria, 18% of men are 65 and older, while 26% of women are 65 and older.

    12. In France, 22.15% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

    Paris, France.

    saiko3p/Shutterstock

    In France, 20% of men and 24% of women are 65 and older.

    11. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 22.23% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Buildings on a river in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    Mazur Travel/Shutterstock

    Among men in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 18% are 65 and older, while 26% of women are 65 and older.

    10. In San Marino, 22.41% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Towers in san Marino.

    San Marino.

    trabantos/Shutterstock

    In San Marino, which has a population of just 35,000 residents, according to 2026 US Census estimates, 21% of men are 65 and older, while 24% of women are 65 and older.

    9. In Serbia, 22.69% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Belgrade, Serbia skyline.

    Belgrade, Serbia.

    Esin Deniz/Shutterstock

    In Serbia, 20% of men and 25% of women are aged 65 and older.

    8. In Croatia, 23.19% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Buildings in Zagreb, Croatia

    Zagreb, Croatia.

    Aleksandr Medvedkov/Shutterstock

    In Croatia, 20% of men and 26% of women are 65 and older.

    7. In Germany, 23.20% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Buildings on a waterway in Hamburg, Germany.

    Hamburg, Germany.

    Torben Knauer/Shutterstock

    In Germany, 21% of men and 25% of women are 65 and older.

    6. In Finland, 23.90% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Buildings on a waterway in Helsinki, Finland

    Helsinki, Finland.

    Oleksiy Mark/Shutterstock

    In Finland, 21% of men are 65 and older, while 26% of women are 65 and older.

    5. In Greece, 23.94% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Homes in Athens, Greece

    Athens.

    f11photo/Shutterstock

    In Greece, 21% of men are aged 65 and older, while 26% of women are.

    4. In Portugal, 24.53% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Homes on a waterway in Porto, Portugal

    Porto, Portugal.

    Neirfy/Shutterstock

    In Portugal, 22% of men and 27% of women are 65 and older.

    3. In Italy, 24.62% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Historic buildings in Florence, Italy.

    Florence, Italy.

    Artmim/Shutterstock

    In Italy, 22% of men and 27% of women are 65 and older.

    2. In Japan, 29.78% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Osaka, Japan buildings.

    Osaka, Japan.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    In Japan, 27% of men are 65 and older, while 33% of women are 65 and older.

    1. In Monaco, 36.17% of the population is aged 65 and older.


    Boats docked in front of buildings in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

    Monte Carlo, Monaco.

    Gaspar Janos/Shutterstock

    In Monaco, which has an estimated population of just 38,000 residents in 2026, 35% of men are 65 and older, while 37% of women are 65 and older.

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