A new study by Eurostat, the European statistics office, showed that Italian population is the oldest in Europe, with an average age of 47,6 years in 2021. Next come Germany (45,9 years) and Portugal (45,8 years).
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On average, the continent's countries have a population with an average age of 44,1 years, an increase of 0,2 compared to 2020. The “youngest” is Cyprus, with 38 years, followed by Ireland (38,5 years ) and Luxembourg (39,6 years).
Still according to the study, all nations recorded an increase in the period, showing the aging of the local population, with an average age that increased by 2,5 years in the period between 2011 and 2021.
In Italy, the increase over the same period was almost four years. However, the biggest increase was recorded in Albania, where the average age in the last 10 years rose from 32,6 to 37,6 years.
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Spain, Portugal, Greece, Ireland and Slovakia also had increases above four years.
Another data pointed out by the Eurostat is the fact that there are just over three people (32,5%) of working age for every elderly person over 65 in Europe. Luxembourg (21%) and Ireland (22,6%) are the best in the ranking in the relationship between people of working age and retirees. Italy (37%), Finland (36,8%) and Greece (35,6%) have the worst numbers.
“Population aging is a long-term trend that began several years ago in Europe. This trend is visible in the transformations in the age structure of populations and is reflected in a growing percentage of elderly people and a falling percentage of people of working age in the total population”, says the document.
The text highlights that the higher percentage of older people in all nations is explained “by greater longevity”, but also by “low levels of fertility over many years”.
Specifically about the 27 Member States of the European Union, Eurostat predicts an “increase in population to a peak of 449,3 million people around 2026 and then gradually decline to 416,1 million by 2100”. (ANSA)
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