These are the countries with the oldest populations

People worldwide are living longer, which is a modern medical success. However, it also comes with its fair share of challenges. According to the UN, every country is experiencing growth in the elderly population.

The organization claims that, in 2020, the number of people aged 60 and older (1 billion) outnumbered children younger than 5. By 2030 the share of the older population will increase to 1.4 billion.

That means that 1 in 6 people will be 60 or older, as the UN predicted in 2022. In 2007 the same organization predicted it would be 1 in 8, so the number could be higher.

The shift in population distribution toward older people (measured by a country's median age) is more common in high-income and developed countries, especially in Europe.

However, the UN claims the trend is growing faster in medium and low-income countries. The organization predicts that by 2050 80% of older people will live in developing countries.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in 2022 that population aging is the "dominant demographic trend" and attributed it to "declining fertility and increasing longevity."

Serious economic challenges come from an aging population, which often means retirement or relocation and a lower percentage of the economically active population.

Most of the top ten countries (as featured by Our World in Data) with the highest median age are in Europe or are developed nations. However, some surprising names show the trend is taking over the world.

Monaco had a median age of 54.50 in 2021. With this in mind, the government of this tiny city-state on the Mediterranean coast designed a National Plan for Ageing Support and Dependency Care in 2019.

Japan is in second place, with a median age of 48.40 in 2021. According to The Guardian, early this year, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the low birthrate and aging population pose an urgent risk to Japanese society.

With a median age of 46.80, Italy has the highest percentage of elderly population in the European Union. Georgia Meloni's Far-right government has tackled the challenge by cutting sales taxes on baby products and raising child benefits.

San Marino, a tiny country that shares borders with Italy on all sides, is the next on the list with a median age of 46.30. According to the UN's Economic Commission for Europe, San Marino's numbers are due to decreased fertility.

Portugal has a median age of 45, it is not the oldest, but it is the fastest-aging population in the EU. In 2019, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development recommended the government prepare the pension system.

Germany is close to Portugal, with a median age of 44.90. According to Bloomberg, expert Holger Schaefer warned that the impacts are becoming real, with hundreds of thousands fewer workers each year.

Next comes Greece, with a median age of 44.70. It was another challenge that added weight to their terrible debt crisis, with a higher and higher dependent population.

Bulgaria has a median age of 44.50. Luckily, according to the World Bank, the economic impact of the southeastern European nation's aging population can be mitigated.

Image: Imad Alassiry / Unsplash

Puerto Rico has a median age of 44, and according to its Health Department, it is experiencing rapid population aging. The institution says 1 in 6 Puerto Ricans is over 60.

Spain has a median age of 43.9, just shy of Puerto Rico. According to the country's statistics institute, there is a direct correlation between the growth of the elderly population and the dependency rates, putting pressure on government expenses.