Globally, populations are becoming older. That is, there is a higher percentage of older people, and people are living longer. In Europe, according to the United Nations (UN), a quarter of people are aged over 60. Globally, it predicts the number of people over 80 to triple between 2017 and 2050. In the UK there are currently half a million people in their 90s, more than two and half times the number there was in 1985. Life expectancy still varies hugely across the planet, but has increased everywhere. Over time, life expectancy has doubled in the UK. In 1841, baby boys were not expected to live past the age of 40.2 and girls not past 42.2. For babies born now in the UK, boys can be expected to live for 79.5 years, and girls 83.1 years.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://patient.info/senior-health/ageing