Share of the population under age 15 and ages 65 and older, 2026.
Despite a global trend toward aging, some countries are still very youthful. In Kenya, more than one-third of the population is under age 15, while only a small share (3 percent) is 65 or older. That age structure creates immediate demand for education and health services—and a growing need for jobs as large younger generations enter the workforce.
Elsewhere, population aging is already well underway. South Korea presents a dramatically different picture, with older adults accounting for a larger share of the population than children (19 percent vs. 11 percent respectively). Countries with older populations face a different set of pressures, including growing demand for health care, pensions, and support for older adults.
Some countries, such as South Africa, experience a “double dependency burden,” with a large share of the population outside the working ages of 15 to 64—resulting in two groups with higher care needs and smaller contributions to the economy. By contrast, Bahrain has low overall dependency, with most of the population in the working ages. The comparison illustrates why countries need policies matched to their particular age structure rather than a single response to demographic change.