[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"question:52:en-US":3},{"metadata":4,"sys":15,"fields":35},{"tags":5,"concepts":14},[6,11],{"sys":7},{"type":8,"linkType":9,"id":10},"Link","Tag","global",{"sys":12},{"type":8,"linkType":9,"id":13},"work",[],{"space":16,"id":20,"type":21,"createdAt":22,"updatedAt":23,"environment":24,"publishedVersion":28,"revision":29,"contentType":30,"locale":34},{"sys":17},{"type":8,"linkType":18,"id":19},"Space","ghhpjogyw4x7","706185d0fbe42f260150d947aa757040","Entry","2021-11-11T07:07:51.464Z","2024-08-21T11:02:45.449Z",{"sys":25},{"id":26,"type":8,"linkType":27},"master","Environment",47,13,{"sys":31},{"type":8,"linkType":32,"id":33},"ContentType","question","en-US",{"globalId":36,"answers":37,"answersAsImages":58,"wrongPercentage":94,"name":95,"questionText":96,"statistics":97,"veryWrongStatistics":99,"correctSentence":101,"youWereWrong":102,"youWereRight":103,"dataSourceShortText":104,"dataSourceLinkLongText":105,"extendedAnswerText":106,"headingVeryWrong":107,"youWereVeryWrong":108,"headingWrong":107},"52",[38,60,77],{"metadata":39,"sys":42,"fields":55},{"tags":40,"concepts":41},[],[],{"space":43,"id":45,"type":21,"createdAt":46,"updatedAt":47,"environment":48,"publishedVersion":50,"revision":51,"contentType":52,"locale":34},{"sys":44},{"type":8,"linkType":18,"id":19},"3aa556bfab46882c89242cba8a23f110","2021-11-11T06:53:40.511Z","2024-08-21T11:02:45.498Z",{"sys":49},{"id":26,"type":8,"linkType":27},14,9,{"sys":53},{"type":8,"linkType":32,"id":54},"answer",{"globalId":56,"correctAnswer":57,"isVeryWrong":58,"answerText":59},"52-a1",true,false,"Around 21%",{"metadata":61,"sys":64,"fields":74},{"tags":62,"concepts":63},[],[],{"space":65,"id":67,"type":21,"createdAt":68,"updatedAt":69,"environment":70,"publishedVersion":50,"revision":51,"contentType":72,"locale":34},{"sys":66},{"type":8,"linkType":18,"id":19},"f26a5588da51994dfedc74320b9f5d90","2021-11-11T06:53:42.051Z","2024-08-21T11:02:45.536Z",{"sys":71},{"id":26,"type":8,"linkType":27},{"sys":73},{"type":8,"linkType":32,"id":54},{"globalId":75,"correctAnswer":58,"isVeryWrong":58,"answerText":76},"52-a2","Around 41%",{"metadata":78,"sys":81,"fields":91},{"tags":79,"concepts":80},[],[],{"space":82,"id":84,"type":21,"createdAt":85,"updatedAt":86,"environment":87,"publishedVersion":50,"revision":51,"contentType":89,"locale":34},{"sys":83},{"type":8,"linkType":18,"id":19},"ff56a5099bb3d06ffd9bcc42fe7e6ee8","2021-11-11T06:53:43.623Z","2024-08-21T11:02:45.574Z",{"sys":88},{"id":26,"type":8,"linkType":27},{"sys":90},{"type":8,"linkType":32,"id":54},{"globalId":92,"correctAnswer":58,"isVeryWrong":57,"answerText":93},"52-a3","Around 61%",88,"In 1990, 19% of people aged 65 and older in the wo","In 1990, 19% of people aged 65 and older in the world still worked. What is the share expected to be in 2030?",[98],"uk 0.88",[100],"uk 0.35","20% of people aged 65 and over are expected to still be working in 2030.","You overestimate how many seniors will keep working, probably because you’ve heard speculation that there will be too many to handle.","They totally overestimate how many older people will retire later.","Source: International Labour Organization","As with any future projections, there is uncertainty. The data that is plugged into the model by the ILO is from either a labor force survey, other comparable household surveys, or a population census. National labor force surveys are generally similar across countries, and the data derived from these surveys are more readily comparable than data obtained from other sources. We can’t know the future for certain but the ILO uses data and models that three independent experts we consulted about this question trust and have confidence in. \n\nYou can read about the methodology of Labour Force Estimates and Projections the ILO uses [here](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ilo.org\u002Filostat-files\u002FDocuments\u002FLFEP.pdf) .\n\nWe put big differences between the three answer options to counter the uncertainty.\n\n[1]  [ILO. “Spotlight on Work Statistics: What about seniors?” from May 2018.](https:\u002F\u002Filo.org\u002Fwcmsp5\u002Fgroups\u002Fpublic\u002F---dgreports\u002F---stat\u002Fdocuments\u002Fpublication\u002Fwcms_629567.pdf)  \n[2]  [ILOSTAT, July 2019](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ilo.org\u002Fshinyapps\u002Fbulkexplorer42\u002F?lang=en&segment=indicator&id=EAP_2WAP_SEX_AGE_RT_A)","\nIn rich countries, there’s a lot of talk about the aging population and speculation that there will soon be too many to be able to afford to take care of them all. It’s easy to imagine a dystopian future where the old have to take care of themselves. But when you look at the actual demographic numbers, the expected changes are extremely small.  \n\n### Why are people wrong about this?\nAn aging population is something that concerns a lot of people. But when we hear a lot about it, it grows in our heads and we think the problem is bigger than it actually is.\n\n### Why is it a problem if people are wrong about this?\nThe population is aging in richer countries, but we find that people hugely overestimate by how much and how quickly. When we use the old in rich countries as a template for old people in all countries, we are less likely to do the right things when preparing our societies for the future. \n\n### Is the share of elderly who work similar in different countries? \nLike any global average, it hides big regional variations. For example, in 2015 the share of over 65s who worked in Europe and Central Asia was close to 7%, while it was almost 39% in Africa.\n\n### Is the number of old people increasing fast?\nThe age structure of the population changes very slowly and very predictably.\nHere is the [age distribution  for the World](https:\u002F\u002Fbit.ly\u002F2TDuwzs), and you can see that there's not a big difference in the number of old people the coming 10 years. \n\nYou can select any country and see the [age distribution over time](https:\u002F\u002Fbit.ly\u002F3nA0EEa) from 1950 to 2100. \n\n### What is the meaning of “work” here – is it full-time employment?\nIt might be that over 65s work a lot in part-time jobs, but that isn’t reflected in this average. Someone is regarded as employed if they work as little as one hour per week. Working in this data refers to people who have a job, but also those looking for jobs. If someone is unemployed but looking for work, they are also considered part of the “labor force”.\n\n ### Even if the share of over 65s working will be the same, will they make up a higher overall share of the workforce?\nYes, a little bit more! Back in 1990, over 65s were only 2.7% of the entire labor force. In 2015 they were 3.7%. By 2030, that is expected to be 5.3%.\n\n### Can I trust this data?\nYes, but as with any projections there is uncertainty. We can’t know the future for sure but the ILO uses data and models that three independent experts we consulted about this question trust and have confidence in. \n\n### Where can I learn more?\nYou can read more about the trends for how many elderly there are in the labor force in the International Labour Organization’s report [What are seniors?](https:\u002F\u002Filo.org\u002Fwcmsp5\u002Fgroups\u002Fpublic\u002F---dgreports\u002F---stat\u002Fdocuments\u002Fpublication\u002Fwcms_629567.pdf).\nTo understand the changing age structure of populations, see the animating population pyramids [here](https:\u002F\u002Fbit.ly\u002F2TDuwzs), and select any countries and play the UN estimates from 1950 to 2100.\n\n![Screenshot 2020-12-22 at 16.04.07](\u002F\u002Fimages.ctfassets.net\u002Fghhpjogyw4x7\u002F6SgEDy7QBRluis14OhN8DH\u002Fd3ede258b1f05272b3a25dc509d50ac2\u002FScreenshot_2020-12-22_at_16.04.07.png)\n\nYou can select any country and see the [age distribution over time](https:\u002F\u002Fbit.ly\u002F3nA0EEa) from 1950 to 2100. \n\n[![Screenshot 2020-12-22 at 16.05.58](\u002F\u002Fimages.ctfassets.net\u002Fghhpjogyw4x7\u002F2WPquHJkne9IqqjAW2gd4C\u002Fd6d10db6e6a2f2a8739a403fedb78974\u002FScreenshot_2020-12-22_at_16.05.58.png)](https:\u002F\u002Fbit.ly\u002F3nA0EEa)"," A flood of seniors at work","You overestimate how many seniors will keep working, probably because you’ve heard speculation that there will be too many to handle.\n"]