Europe is on the verge of a demographic disaster. Aging populations combined with persistently low birth rates are rapidly pushing retirement and healthcare systems toward the breaking point. The World Health Organization has already warned that 2024 will mark the first time in history that Europe’s population of those aged 65 and over will outnumber those under 15. This shift is a major red flag for Europe’s pension and healthcare systems.
“The European population is ageing rapidly and is expected to start shrinking by 2026,” according to European Parliament. In 2022, 21.1% of the EU population was aged 65 or older. By 2070, that share is projected to rise to about 30%. These trends spell an unsustainable future unless drastic changes are made. “The current retirement age is simply not sustainable,” warns experts, as fewer working-age individuals are available to support a growing number of retirees.
This demographic shift has created a looming crisis in Europe’s pension systems and healthcare entitlements. Governments now face the daunting task of addressing these pressures, as economic uncertainties grow. Countries with birth rates below the replacement level face declining populations, which further reduces the workforce and tax revenues.
Who will pay for this? With fewer young workers contributing to social services and healthcare, these systems are under strain. Solutions are being explored, but the challenges remain enormous. The aging of Europe’s population is not just an issue of social policy; it’s a ticking time bomb for the future of public finances.
Eye-opening chart, most European countries are heading into demographic disaster. Who is supposed to pay for retirement and healthcare entitlements there? Current retirement age is simply not sustainable. pic.twitter.com/BU2mb93fSG
— Michael A. Arouet (@MichaelAArouet) November 24, 2024
Sources:
https://www.dw.com/en/aging-europe-rising-costs-threaten-eu-pensions/a-69896535
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2023/753953/EPRS_BRI%282023%29753953_EN.pdf