How the share of population under 15 and the share 65 and older vary across countries, showing several distinct age-structure patterns.
Countries and territories vary widely in their age structure.
Each dot represents one country or territory, positioned by the share of its population under 15 (horizontal axis) and the share 65 and older (vertical axis). Across 193 countries and territories, the under-15 share ranges from 11% to 49%, and the 65-and-older share ranges from 2% to 29%. Countries and territories with a higher under-15 share tend to have a lower 65-and-older share, but the relationship takes several different forms.
Niger, Mexico, and Japan illustrate three different age-structure patterns.
Niger has a high under-15 share (47%) and a low 65-and-older share (3%). Japan has a low under-15 share (11%) and a high 65-and-older share (29%). Mexico shows an intermediate share of both, with 23% under 15 and 10% aged 65 and older, close to the world aggregate of 25% and 10%.
A fourth pattern combines relatively low shares of both children and older adults.
Qatar has 14% of its population under 15 and 2% aged 65 and older. The United Arab Emirates shows a similar combination, at 16% and 2%. Both measures are below the world aggregates of 25% under 15 and 10% ages 65 and older, producing a different age structure from the three examples highlighted previously.