Quantify the demographic shift toward aging populations, map the fiscal and healthcare system impacts of aging, and assess the adequacy of current policy frameworks for managing this transition.

UN World Population Prospects 2024 age structure projections across 195 countries through 2100. WHO Global Health Observatory data on age-related disease prevalence and healthcare costs. IMF fiscal sustainability analysis for aging societies. Case study comparison of Japan (oldest population), South Korea (rapid aging), and sub-Saharan Africa (youngest).

5 billion by 2050. Japan's experience demonstrates the fiscal impacts: public expenditure on pensions and healthcare for the 65+ exceeds 13% of GDP. Korea faces a sharper squeeze: the working-age population will contract 35% by 2070 while the 65+ population triples.

In sub-Saharan Africa, absolute numbers of elderly will increase 4x while being supported by proportionally smaller working-age cohorts due to fertility decline. The aggregate fiscal impact globally: government spending on pensions and age-related healthcare will increase from 13% of GDP today to 18-22% by 2050 in developed nations.

This is unsustainable on current tax bases without either higher tax rates, benefit reductions, or retirement age increases — all politically contentious.