June 2026

Why America’s Aging Population Is the Next Big Business Frontier

For decades, business leaders focused their energy on millennials — their spending habits, their values, their appetite for disruption. Meanwhile, a far larger economic force was quietly building momentum. Americans over 65 now represent one of the fastest growing consumer segments in the country, and the organizations, entrepreneurs, and executives paying attention stand to reshape entire industries. This isn’t a demographic footnote. It’s a structural shift with real consequences for healthcare delivery, real estate, workforce planning, and consumer product design....

What one country’s experiment says about attempts to boost birth rates

Sitting on a park bench in the eastern Hungarian city of Debrecen, Barbara Elek is nervously refreshing her emails. She and her husband Levi are waiting to find out if Barbara is pregnant, after their third round of IVF 10 days ago. "If it doesn't succeed, then obviously I'll be devastated, and then the last resort will be trying to make sure that, at least financially, we don't lose everything," she tells BBC Global Women. Like many other young Hungarian couples...

France faces deeper pension deficit as population ages

France is on track to run a larger-than-expected pension deficit from 2045 as falling birth rates and an ageing population put increasing pressure on the country's retirement system, according to the body that monitors its sustainability. The French Pensions Advisory Council said a recent downward revision to the fertility rate had worsened the outlook, with the gap between contributions and pension payments now expected to reach 2.4 per cent of GDP by 2070. Falling birth rate worsens outlook The updated forecast was based...

Cuba’s Elderly: Struggling Amid Sanctions and Economic Hardship

In Cuba, the elderly find themselves in dire straits as economic struggles, exacerbated by U.S. sanctions, tighten their grip on the island. The collapse of once-reliable state provisions leaves them vulnerable, with many unable to secure basic needs like food and healthcare. As Cuba’s population rapidly ages, the country faces a crisis as pensions shrink, prices soar, and essential services crumble. Despite being promised support in their old age, seniors now grapple with the harsh reality of insufficient services amid...

India’s fertility rate falls below replacement level: Why it matters

India’s fertility rate has for the first time fallen below the level needed to stop the population from shrinking, raising concerns about future labour shortages and an ageing society. For decades, India has seen rapid population growth. According to government statistics, including the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report — the country’s largest demographic survey — India has had a falling fertility rate for some years, but the reproduction rate remained high enough to keep the population growing. The latest SRS...

China. Aging population triggers demand for ‘senior toys’

China's rapidly aging population is fueling a new consumer trend for "senior toys". With over 300 million citizens aged 60 or older, families are increasingly turning to specialized games, puzzles and therapeutic toys to combat cognitive decline and elderly isolation. However, industry insiders warn that the emerging market is still failing to meet the complex needs of older adults. Guo Xiafei used to think her grandmother was fine living on her own. But during her rare home visits to Chengdu,...

May 2026

Should Malaysia expand its social pension? Global evidence, design issues and options

By World Bank Group This study examines whether Malaysia should expand its social pension coverage and adequacy by drawing on global experiences and comparing them to the Malaysian context. It explores the impacts of social pensions on various social indicators and addresses key design issues for expansion. The paper concludes with recommendations for reforms, emphasizing the need to balance welfare and equity impacts with fiscal considerations. Get the report here

China now home to more people over 65 than children, official survey finds

For the first time in records dating back to 1949, China is now home to more people aged 65 and above than children, the latest official data showed, underscoring the country’s deepening demographic pressure. By November last year, 15.87 per cent of China’s roughly 1.4 billion-strong population was aged at least 65, compared with 15.25 per cent aged between 0 to 14, according to the results of a nationwide sample survey released late last week. That meant China’s traditional family-based model...

US. Aging in place comes with major financial hurdles

More than 75% of older Americans say they want to “age in place,” or live in their home for as long as possible. Sounds reasonable. But 40% have doubts about whether that's possible, according to a survey by AARP. For many, financial constraints will force them to downsize, relocate to a less expensive city or state or move in with family or into an independent retirement or assisted living community. Money issues such as the cost of age-proofing a home, the...

How comprehensive, holistic financial planning is addressing an ageing Malaysia

A retired teacher scrolls through hospital bills on her phone while discussing inheritance plans with her daughter; a small-business owner considers whether the house he has lived in for 30 years could be used to support future medical costs; a retiring couple wonders whether their EPF savings will be enough for a retirement that may stretch across two or even three decades. These are no longer private anxieties; they are becoming central concerns for many Malaysians. With 14% of the...