Population aged 65 and over — all countries

Population aged 65 and over — Northern Europe

Population aged 65 and over in Northern Europe in 2025 — 21,941,858 people. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 140%.

2025 21.94M people +1.55% vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 21.94M people2025
Period minimum 9.14M people1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · people

Population aged 65 and over — Northern Europe, 1960–20255M10M15M20M25M19601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 9,142,954 people1962: 9,430,059 people1964: 9,792,783 people1966: 10,202,636 people1968: 10,627,610 people1970: 11,060,760 people1972: 11,521,113 people1974: 11,952,788 people1976: 12,344,740 people1978: 12,723,100 people1980: 13,034,208 people1982: 13,140,983 people1984: 13,161,932 people1986: 13,515,911 people1988: 13,876,083 people1990: 14,134,836 people1992: 14,327,587 people1994: 14,441,217 people1996: 14,553,123 people1998: 14,622,090 people2000: 14,683,979 people2002: 14,854,834 people2004: 15,083,380 people2006: 15,332,205 people2008: 15,724,103 people2010: 16,314,230 people2012: 17,192,730 people2014: 18,062,416 people2016: 18,737,929 people2018: 19,348,820 people2020: 19,930,987 people2022: 20,581,887 people2024: 21,606,760 people2025: 21,941,858 people
Change over the period: +12.8M (+139.99%) Average annual rate: 1.36 %

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Northern Europe

Northern Europe 21.94M people
World 855M people
Population aged 65 and over — Northern Europe, by year Northern Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2025 21.94M +335,098 +1.55%
2024 21.61M +484,358 +2.29%
2023 21.12M +540,515 +2.63%
2022 20.58M +405,371 +2.01%
2021 20.18M +245,529 +1.23%
2020 19.93M +251,477 +1.28%
2019 19.68M +330,690 +1.71%
2018 19.35M +310,960 +1.63%
2017 19.04M +299,931 +1.6%
2016 18.74M +323,180 +1.76%
2015 18.41M +352,333 +1.95%
2014 18.06M +408,255 +2.31%
2013 17.65M +461,431 +2.68%
2012 17.19M +485,350 +2.91%
2011 16.71M +393,150 +2.41%
2010 16.31M +311,905 +1.95%
2009 16M +278,222 +1.77%
2008 15.72M +224,193 +1.45%
2007 15.5M +167,705 +1.09%
2006 15.33M +123,264 +0.81%
2005 15.21M +125,561 +0.83%
2004 15.08M +126,846 +0.85%
2003 14.96M +101,700 +0.68%
2002 14.85M +93,648 +0.63%
2001 14.76M +77,207 +0.53%
2000 14.68M +42,323 +0.29%
1999 14.64M +19,566 +0.13%
1998 14.62M +27,345 +0.19%
1997 14.59M +41,622 +0.29%
1996 14.55M +51,352 +0.35%
1995 14.5M +60,554 +0.42%
1994 14.44M +54,040 +0.38%
1993 14.39M +59,590 +0.42%
1992 14.33M +90,020 +0.63%
1991 14.24M +102,731 +0.73%
1990 14.13M +91,341 +0.65%
1989 14.04M +167,412 +1.21%
1988 13.88M +198,501 +1.45%
1987 13.68M +161,671 +1.2%
1986 13.52M +197,930 +1.49%
1985 13.32M +156,049 +1.19%
1984 13.16M +34,658 +0.26%
1983 13.13M −13,709 −0.1%
1982 13.14M +24,387 +0.19%
1981 13.12M +82,388 +0.63%
1980 13.03M +138,354 +1.07%
1979 12.9M +172,754 +1.36%
1978 12.72M +191,419 +1.53%
1977 12.53M +186,941 +1.51%
1976 12.34M +185,276 +1.52%
1975 12.16M +206,676 +1.73%
1974 11.95M +217,012 +1.85%
1973 11.74M +214,663 +1.86%
1972 11.52M +225,486 +2%
1971 11.3M +234,867 +2.12%
1970 11.06M +223,333 +2.06%
1969 10.84M +209,817 +1.97%
1968 10.63M +214,962 +2.06%
1967 10.41M +210,012 +2.06%
1966 10.2M +201,355 +2.01%
1965 10M +208,498 +2.13%
1964 9.79M +199,423 +2.08%
1963 9.59M +163,301 +1.73%
1962 9.43M +138,317 +1.49%
1961 9.29M +148,788 +1.63%
1960 9.14M

About the indicator

The population aged 65 and over. In absolute numbers this group is growing faster than any other: it expands both from the rise in life expectancy and from the entry of the large cohorts born in the middle of the 20th century. Japan and Italy lead by share of population, China and India by absolute number, and the divergence of the two rankings shows where the load on health care and pensions is larger in scale and where it is sharper.

Important: The threshold of 65 years is an international convention and is not tied to the retirement age of any particular country.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.