World Getting Old - 80+ Population to Triple by 2050: UN

Longevity is an achievement of modern public health and medicine, but it also comes with real costs, caregiving demands, and planning challenges. You see it in families everywhere — parents living into their 80s and 90s, extended retirements, and adult children navigating care decisions earlier than expected. Stress, burden, and financial challenges are impacting families worldwide.

According to the latest United Nations population projections, the number of people age 80 and older globally will more than triple between 2015 and 2050 and nearly sevenfold by 2100. This shift is neither temporary nor marginal, but it’s reshaping families, economies, and health systems worldwide.

Global Demographic Trends: More Older People Than Ever Before

The United Nations World Population Prospects projects that:

• The global population age 80+ will grow from ~125 million in 2015 to 434 million in 2050 and reach 944 million by 2100.
• By 2050, nearly 17 percent of the world’s population — roughly 1.6 billion people — will be age 65 or older.

Meanwhile, fertility rates are declining as life expectancy climbs, meaning an older global age structure.

Aging America Needs to Plan for Long-Term Health Care

It becomes more likely that we will need assistance with the day-to-day activities we take for granted as we grow older. Think about the things we had to learn when we were very young, bathing, eating, dressing, using the bathroom, even walking, we learned when we were young. Later we learned about cooking and cleaning, paying bills, and managing a household. However, as we get older, we need either physical hands-on assistance with everyday activities of daily living (ADLs) or supervision due to dementia. 

We also often need help with managing everyday life - known as instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Unlike the ADLs that are basic self-care tasks like bathing, IADLs require more complex planning and thinking.

The IDALs include grocery shopping, telephone use, medication management, house cleaning, managing money, and paying bills. 

Aging is a real concern. In the United States:

• About 24.5 percent of the population is now age 60+, and 3.8 percent is age 80+.
• By 2050, 36.2 percent will be age 60 or older, and 8.3 percent will be age 80+.
• The total number of Americans over age 65 is expected to double by 2050.

This demographic shift — often called the “silver tsunami” — is reshaping care needs and costs.

In general, the need for long-term health care is growing. Increasing aging in the U.S. and worldwide leads to a greater demand for long-term health care services and supports, placing financial and emotional strain on families. Many times the need for extended care cerates a family crisis.

Aging is Not New News

An aging country isn't really new news. A U.S. Congressional Report in 2012 stated that America's aging would continue long after the Baby Boomer generation crests. That report was spot on. This graying of America will pose a continuing economic challenge for both the American family and the nation for decades to come. 

Long-term care leaders describe 2026 as a pivotal year.

In 2026, long-term care is sitting at the fulcrum of change: on one side are the pressures of the here-and-now; on the other, the blue-sky potential of what lies ahead.” — Clifton Porter II, President & CEO, AHCA/NCAL, in Long Term Care 2026 Trends and Outlook.

Porter’s perspective reflects both the enormous challenge and the opportunity for innovation in long-term care services across care settings. The problem is many people have not saved for retirement adequately, much less planning for long-term care that comes with aging. Long-Term Care Insurance has become an ever-increasing option to plan for the financial costs and burdens of aging.

Many Americans are learning about long-term care funding options and purchasing affordable LTC Insurance policies to address the rapidly rising costs and related family burdens that come with extended health care.

Living Longer Doesn’t Always Mean Living Healthier

People worldwide are indeed living longer — but not always healthier. Growth in life expectancy has slowed in recent years in countries like the United States, where gains from the pandemic era have plateaued. At the same time, chronic disease prevalence, disability, and cognitive impairment increase with age.

The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that the proportion of people age 60 and over will nearly double by 2050, and the number of those age 80+ is expected to triple. This trend means more people will eventually need assistance with daily living tasks — especially as chronic conditions and mobility limitations rise with age. People require long-term care services and support when they need assistance with daily living activities due to an illness, accident, or the impact of aging. 

With greater longevity comes a greater risk of cognitive decline as well. Many Americans think health insurance or Medicare will pay for these costs, yet a recent CNBC report said that 33% of those aged 55 to 64 said they would rely on Medicare to pay for long-term care, even though Medicare only pays for short-term skill care.

As a result, many people approaching retirement age are less likely to plan effectively for long-term care and may wind up putting themselves at financial risk, according to the CNBC report. More and more families find themselves in severe financial strain due to long-term care costs, often spending most of their assets and ending up on Medicaid. 

Medicaid will pay for long-term care services only if you have little or no income and assets. Unless you have Long-Term Care Insurance you and your family will be responsible for everything.

Understanding ADLs and IADLs — What They Mean for Care Needs

When age, injury, or illness begins to interfere with daily life, people may need support with:

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) — basic self-care tasks:

• Bathing
• Dressing
• Toileting
• Eating
• Transferring/mobility skills

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) — complex daily tasks:

• Grocery shopping
• Medication management
• Housekeeping
• Paying bills
• Managing finances
• Using communication devices

Difficulty with these tasks is the clinical threshold for long-term care services and supports.

Financial Impact on Families and Caregivers

As longevity increases, so do long-term care costs — often into the tens of thousands per year. Families shoulder these costs both financially and emotionally.

Without planning:

• Retirement savings can be depleted.
• Loved ones may become caregivers with little support.
• Many families turn to Medicaid after assets are spent.

At the same time, unpaid family caregiving is soaring nationwide — a key driver of economic and emotional strain.

Planning Strategies: Long-Term Care Insurance and Beyond

Long-Term Care Insurance exists to:

• Protect savings
• Provide tax-free benefits
• Enable choice in care settings (home, assisted living, facility)

Most people qualify best for coverage before significant health issues arise. Waiting until health declines often eliminates the option to purchase coverage.

Support and Resources Available Today

If you’re looking for help now:

• Use LTC News Resources to explore care options and funding strategies.
• Search the LTC News Caregiver Directory if you need to find a caregiver or extended care facility for an older loved one.
• Get expert assistance filing Long-Term Care Insurance claims — even for policies from other carriers.

Older people with declining health cannot easily purchase Long-Term Care Insurance. If there is no LTC policy and your loved one has a life insurance policy, you could sell it for cash now to cover the costs of care.

Professional support can make a meaningful difference for families navigating care decisions.

Prepare for Aging

The growth of the age 80+ population is not a distant issue — it’s already shaping families, health systems, and financial plans. A longer life is a remarkable accomplishment. Being prepared for what comes with it — physically, emotionally, and financially — is essential.

Your longevity shouldn’t be a burden. It should be something you control and enjoy without placing stress on those you love.