1. Why do populations age? (Causes)
Adjust the sliders to see how Birth Rate and Life Expectancy determine age structure.
2.1
Fewer babies = Percentage of elderly rises.
75
Better medicine = People stay in the population longer.
Result: Stable Population
Population Portrait
👶 Youth (0-14)
🧑💼 Working (15-64)
👴 Elderly (65+)
2. The Dependency Ratio
Can the workers support the retirees?
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Political: "Grey Power"
Elderly people vote at higher rates. Politics shifts to focus on pensions and healthcare rather than education or innovation.
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Economic: Labor Shortage
Fewer workers entering the economy. Requires Pronatalist policies or increased Immigration (Guest Workers) to fill jobs.
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Social: Sandwich Generation
Middle-aged adults are squeezed, having to care for their aging parents (increasing life expectancy) and their own children simultaneously.