The 25 countries with the largest elder populations, ranked by percentage of people 65 and older

Italy has one of the highest shares of people aged 65 and over.<p class="copyright">alessandro_pinto/Getty Images</p>

Italy has one of the highest shares of people aged 65 and over.

alessandro_pinto/Getty Images

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Most of the countries with the largest percentage of older people are European, with the US not ranking in the top 25.

  • The World Bank Group identified the countries with the highest shares of people aged 65 and over.
  • Japan was the only non-European country among the top 25.
  • In all the countries, women had a higher share of their population aged 65 and older than men.

Global life expectancy is rising, meaning a greater percentage of the world's population is older adults.

However, not every country has experienced this elder boom equally.

The World Bank Group compiled data on the percentage of the population aged 65 or older for each country in 2025, using data from the United Nations.

Business Insider rounded each percentage to one decimal place and excluded non-countries. The data, for example, showed sizable older populations in territories such as Puerto Rico and special administrative regions such as Hong Kong.

We also included data on the percentages of the male and female populations aged 65 and older — also compiled from the World Bank Group.

The data overwhelmingly indicates that European countries have the highest numbers of older adults per capita. Japan is the only non-European entry in the top 25.

In the US, which ranks 39th when excluding non-countries, 18.4% of the population is 65 and older.

A 2025 study by Brown University found that Europeans are more likely to live longer than Americans, regardless of wealth level. The study's author, health economist Irene Papanicolas, said systemic issues in the US, such as "economic inequality or risk factors like stress, diet, or environmental hazards," contribute to lower life expectancy.

See the 25 countries with the highest percentage of elders in their populations, listed from No. 25 to No. 1.

25. In the Netherlands, 20.9% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Bicycles line a canal bridge in Amsterdam with historic buildings and the Basilica of Saint Nicholas in the background.

Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Nanci Santos/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 19.6%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 22.1%

24. In Sweden, 20.9% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Colorful historic buildings line Stockholm’s waterfront beneath a dramatic blue and pink clouded sky.

Stockholm, Sweden.

NANCY PAUWELS/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 19.5%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 22.4%

23. In Belgium, 21.0% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Brussels city center rooftops and streets glow at dusk with the Brussels Town Hall spire rising above the skyline.

Brussels, Belgium.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 19.1%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 22.8%

22. In Austria, 21.1% of the population is aged 65 and older.

St. Stephen's Cathedral stands in a city square under a colorful sunset sky in Vienna.

Vienna, Austria.

Vladislav Zolotov/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 18.9%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 23.2%

21. In Denmark, 21.1% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Colorful Nyhavn waterfront buildings and moored boats reflect in calm harbor water at dusk.

Copenhagen, Denmark.

TomasSereda/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 19.6%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 22.6%

20. In Hungary, 21.2% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Matthias Church rises beside Fisherman's Bastion with colorful tiled roofs under a clear blue sky.

Budapest, Hungary.

Lichtwolke/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 17.0%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 25.0%

19. In Czechia, 21.2% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Prague skyline at dusk overlooks the Vltava River, arched bridges, historic buildings, and autumn foliage.

Prague, Czechia.

Peter Schier/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 18.2%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 24.1%

18. In Liechtenstein, 21.4% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Vaduz Castle overlooks a green hillside town with snow-capped Alpine mountains in the background.

Vaduz, Liechtenstein.

OlyaSolodenko/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 20.1%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 22.7%

17. In Spain, 21.6% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Monument to Alfonso XII overlooks rowboats on the lake in Madrid’s El Retiro Park.

Madrid, Spain.

Elena Zolotova/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 19.3%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 23.9%

16. In Estonia, 21.8% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Tallinn Old Town skyline with medieval towers, red rooftops, green trees, and St. Olaf's Church under a cloudy sky.

Tallinn, Estonia.

Kirk Fisher/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 16.4%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 26.7%

15. In Latvia, 22.2% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Colorful historic buildings, Gothic brick church architecture, flower gardens, and street lamps in Riga Old Town at sunset.

Riga, Latvia.

gorsh13/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 16.4%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 27.2%

14. In Slovenia, 22.2% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Tour boat travels along the Ljubljanica River past historic buildings and the Franciscan Church in Ljubljana.

Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 19.5%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 25.0%

13. In Bulgaria, 22.2% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral rises above trees with green roofs and gold domes under a bright blue sky.

Sofia, Bulgaria.

sirene68/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 18.3%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 26.0%

12. In France, 22.5% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Eiffel Tower rises above the Seine River and bridges in a broad daytime view of Paris.

Paris, France.

Cristian Lourenço/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 20.2%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 24.7%

11. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 22.9% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Stone arch bridge crosses a river beside colorful buildings and a museum as birds fly overhead.

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

frantic00/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 18.5%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 26.8%

10. In Serbia, 23.1% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Historic Belgrade skyline with a church bell tower, red-tiled rooftops, and autumn trees framed by leaves.

Belgrade, Serbia.

frantic00/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 20.1%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 25.8%

9. In San Marino, 23.1% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Guaita Tower rises from a forested cliff above San Marino and the surrounding countryside under dramatic clouds.

San Marino.

StevanZZ/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 21.9%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 24.3%

8. In Croatia, 23.6% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Zagreb Cathedral rises above city rooftops and a large central square at sunset.

Zagreb, Croatia.

RudyBalasko/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 20.1%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 26.9%

7. In Germany, 23.7% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Berlin street scene with the Fernsehturm and Berlin Cathedral visible beyond historic buildings and pedestrians.

Berlin, Germany.

Ekaterina Chizhevskaya/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 21.3%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 26.0%

6. In Finland, 24.2% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Helsinki Cathedral rises behind a blurred green tram passing between yellow buildings on a cobblestone street.

Helsinki, Finland.

f11photo/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 21.7%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 26.6%

5. In Greece, 24.4% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Illuminated Acropolis and Parthenon rise above Athens at dusk with city lights and coastline in the background.

Athens, Greece.

TomasSereda/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 21.8%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 26.9%

4. In Portugal, 24.9% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Yellow tram on a Lisbon street with the Arco da Rua Augusta visible beyond historic buildings.

Lisbon, Portugal.

Yasonya/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 22.4%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 27.2%

3. In Italy, 25.1% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Rome skyline with church domes, the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument, trees, and distant mountains under a cloudy sky.

Rome, Italy.

Andrew Jackson/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 22.7%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 27.4%

2. In Japan, 30.0% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Tokyo skyline at sunset with illuminated Tokyo Tower and snow-capped Mount Fuji in the background.

Tokyo, Japan.

tawatchaiprakobkit/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 27.1%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 32.8%

1. In Monaco, 36.0% of the population is aged 65 and older.

Monaco’s rocky old town overlooks Port Hercule marina and the Mediterranean under a partly cloudy sky.

Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Anna Koberska/Getty Images

Percentage of the male population aged 65 and older: 34.9%

Percentage of the female population aged 65 and older: 37.1%

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