Demographic ageing of the population: assessment methods

Population ageing in the 21st century will have a profound impact on society and will require more attention from administrative bodies. The share of elderly people among the population in developed countries and in many developing countries is increasing rapidly. Population ageing opens new opportunities, associated with active participation of older generations both in economic and in social life. Population ageing also poses major challenges, connected, in particular, with the financial viability of pension systems, the expenses of the health system, and full integration of older people as active participants in the process of social development.The article considers the indicators that characterize the current state and development trends of demographic ageing. It provides classification features of people’s “ageing” based on the share of older people in the total population. The author gives the classification of indirect methods for assessing the social, economic and demographic consequences of population ageing in the context of various spheres of public life. The importance of using these methods together in different variations is determined by the complexity of the consequences of population ageing.