Countries vary widely in their age structure. Some — mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa — have very young populations where 40%+ of people are under 14 and very few are over 65. Others — in Europe, East Asia, and parts of the Americas — have aging populations with 20%+ over 65 and relatively few children. Many countries in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East fall somewhere in between, in various stages of the demographic transition from young to aging societies.
Population Under 14 (%) vs Population Over 65 (%)
Correlation (r)
-0.829
Strong negative
Countries
216
with both indicators
Avg Population Under 14
25%
global average
Avg Population Over 65
11%
global average
Key Insight
There is a strong negative correlation — countries with a high share of children tend to have very few elderly, and vice versa. African nations cluster in the bottom-right (young populations), while Europe and East Asia cluster in the top-left (aging populations). Latin America and Southeast Asia span the middle of the spectrum, reflecting ongoing demographic transitions.
Regional Averages
| Region | Countries | Avg Population Under 14 | Avg Population Over 65 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | 54 | 38% | 4% |
| Asia | 49 | 25% | 8% |
| Europe | 48 | 15% | 20% |
| Americas | 46 | 21% | 12% |
| Oceania | 19 | 29% | 8% |