Demographic Imperative.
That we live in an aging world is now well recognized. The steady, sustained growth of elderly populations is posing a considerable challenge to policymakers and after the turn of the century the numbers and proportions of elderly will rise rapidly in most developed and many developing countries. The increased numbers of the oldest members of the elderly population will generate special concerns. The well-documented survival advantage of women over men may be tempered by the suggestion that men spend a greater portion of life in an active, nondisabled state than women. Cross-national demographic and epidemiologic data may be used for defining and sharpening national policies that address aging populations.
Kinsella
K
Aging Studies Branch, International Programs Center, US Bureau of the Census, Washington, DC 20233 USA.