--- title: "Global population of over-65s exceeds children under five for first time" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/global-population-of-over-65s-exceeds-children-under-five-for-first-time" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/global-population-of-over-65s-exceeds-children-under-five-for-first-time" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/global-population-of-over-65s-exceeds-children-under-five-for-first-time.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/global-population-of-over-65s-exceeds-children-under-five-for-first-time" category: "Politics" published: "2026-09-04T12:46:11.709Z" source_reported: "2026-09-04T11:24:00.000Z" updated: "2026-09-04T12:46:11.709Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 61 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-04T12:58:19.108Z" --- # Global population of over-65s exceeds children under five for first time *Demographic shift driven by falling birth rates and increased life expectancy marks a historic turning point.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to US Census Bureau report, with Axios cited as intermediary. - Craft 61 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is clear and holds together, with specific figures and dates provided. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use strong language like 'historic first' and 'overturn'. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Globally, for the first time, the population aged 65 and over is larger than the population aged five and under. - This demographic milestone is attributed to a worldwide decrease in birth rates and an increase in life expectancy. - The US Census Bureau projects the 65+ population to grow from 852 million in 2025 to 2 billion by 2060. - By 2060, individuals aged 65 and over are expected to account for approximately 55% of global population growth. The world has reached a historic demographic turning point where the number of individuals aged 65 and over now exceeds the number of children aged five and under. This shift is a consequence of declining global birth rates and increasing life expectancy, according to a report from the US Census Bureau. The US Census Bureau projects that the population aged 65 and over will increase significantly, from 852 million in 2025 to an estimated 2 billion by 2060. During this period, the total global population is expected to rise from 8.13 billion to 10.23 billion. The growth in the elderly demographic is anticipated to constitute approximately 55% of the world's total population increase by 2060. In 2023, over 71% of the global population resided in countries with fertility rates at or below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. This contrasts with 2013, when only 45% of the global population lived in such countries, indicating a widespread trend of fewer younger generations replacing older ones. ## Disagreement on projections While the US Census Bureau projects the number of people aged 65 and over to reach 2 billion by 2060, one report from ZN.UA states that by 2060, the number of people aged 65 and over in Asia alone will grow from 487 million to 1.24 billion. This report also notes that Africa's elderly population will increase from 60 million to 249 million by 2060, surpassing Europe's elderly population in absolute numbers. ## What the coverage left out None of the left, centre, or right-rated reports printed below mention the specific projection that by 2060, people aged 65 and over will constitute approximately 55% of the world's population growth. The full reports from ZN.UA and Hot News did not include this specific statistic, nor did any of the digests from the rated outlets. ## Who covered it Shares of the 13 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 31% (4) - Centre: 30% (4) - Right: 39% (5) 18 of 31 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-04T12:58:19.108Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 9 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-04T15:00:07.708Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Reports from the left-rated outlets led on the historic nature of the demographic shift, with Hot News highlighting that seniors now outnumber young children worldwide for the first time. Axios, also rated left, noted this as a historic first and a profound inversion of the human age structure. Newser stated that older adults now outnumber young children worldwide for the first time in recorded history, driven by falling birthrates and longer lives. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports from IBTimes and Political Wire focused on the core finding that older people now surpass the young in the world for the first time in history, citing a US Census Bureau report. Visual Capitalist's report focused on the US, projecting that America's population will shift as seniors are expected to outnumber children by 2029. ZN.UA, a centre-rated outlet, provided a detailed account of the demographic shift, including projections for Asia and Africa, and discussed the potential economic impacts and societal adjustments needed. ### Right - Right-rated outlets such as the New York Post and The Epoch Times led with the headline that senior citizens now outnumber young children across the world for the first time in human history. Yonhap News Agency and news-pravda.com also reported this primary finding, with Yonhap adding that South Korea is expected to become the oldest country by 2060. End Time Headlines also reported the historic crossover, stating that older adults now outnumber the youngest children worldwide. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - mixed: 1 - high: 9 - unknown: 19 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [akta.ba](https://akta.ba/vijesti/svijet/207903/svijet-stari-prvi-put-u-historiji-starijih-od-65-vise-nego-djece-do-pet-godina) — The World Is Aging: For the First Time in History, People over 65 More than Children Under Five Years Old - [atvbl.rs](https://atvbl.rs/vijesti/svijet/prvi-put-u-svijetu-zabiljezeno-vise-starih-osoba-nego-djece/2339171) — For the First Time, There Are More Elderly People than Children in the World - [ThePress United | International News Analysis, Viewpoint](https://thepressunited.com/updates/elderly-outnumber-young-children-for-first-time-in-history-census) — Elderly outnumber young children for first time in history – census - The Press United - [Unknown](https://hani.co.kr/arti/international/international_general/1276324.html) — The World's Elderly Population Has Surpassed the Number of Infants and toddlers... By 2060, Korea Will Be the 'Oldest Country' - [Hrvatski Medijski Servis](https://hms.ba/prvi-put-u-svijetu-vise-osoba-starijih-od-65-godina-nego-male-djece) — For the First Time in the World, There Are More People over 65 than Young Children - Croatian Media Service - Now I Know More! - [Klix](https://klix.ba/vijesti/svijet/nikad-manje-beba-nikad-vise-starijih-prvi-put-na-svijetu-ima-vise-osoba-starijih-od-65-godina-nego-male-djece/260904058) — Never Fewer Babies, Never More Seniors: For the First Time in the World, There Are More People over 65 than Young Children - [alfavita.gr](https://alfavita.gr/koinonia/559065_anatropi-sta-65-oi-ilikiomenoi-xeperasan-ta-mikra-paidia) — Overturn at 65: Seniors Outnumber Young Children - [ZN.UA Зеркало недели](https://zn.ua/WORLD/vpervye-v-mire-chislo-pozhilykh-ljudej-prevysilo-chislo-detej-v-vozraste-do-pjati-let.html) — For the First Time in the World, the Number of Older Persons Exceeded the Number of Children Under the Age of Five. - [Actualno.com](https://actualno.com/interest/precedent-v-istorijata-vyzrastnite-hora-veche-sa-poveche-ot-malkite-deca-v-svetoven-mashtab-news_2635855.html) — Historical Precedent: Elderly People Now Outnumber Young Children Worldwide - [asiae.co.kr](https://asiae.co.kr/article/2026090410090210451) — Elderly Population Surpasses Infants for the First Time in Human History… South Korea to Become the Oldest Country by 2060 - [inbusiness.kz](https://inbusiness.kz/ru/last/chislo-pozhilyh-v-mire-vpervye-stalo-bolshe-chem-malyshej) — For the First Time, the Number of Older Persons in the World Was Higher than the Number of Infants. - [Seoul Shinmun (서울신문)](https://seoul.co.kr/news/international/2026/09/04/20260904500147) — Global Elderly Population Surpasses Infants for First Time in Human History… South Korea to Become the Oldest Country by 2060 - [Aleph News](https://alephnews.ro/guvern/pentru-prima-data-in-istorie-oamenii-de-peste-65-de-ani-sunt-mai-numerosi-decat-copiii-de-pana-la-5-ani-ce-se-va-intampla-pana-in-2060) — For the First Time in History, People over 65 Are More Numerous than Children up to 5 Years Old. What Will Happen Until 2060 - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/09/03/us-news/senior-citizens-outnumber-young-kids-across-the-world-for-first-time-in-human-history) — Senior citizens outnumber young kids across the world for first time in human history - [The Epoch Times](https://theepochtimes.com/world/elderly-population-eclipses-young-children-for-1st-time-in-history-census-bureau-6083145) — Elderly Population Eclipses Young Children for 1st Time in History: Census Bureau - [Visual Capitalist](https://visualcapitalist.com/the-u-s-will-have-more-seniors-than-children-by-2029) — The U.S. Will Have More Seniors Than Children by 2029 - [Poder360](https://poder360.com.br/poder-internacional/numero-de-idosos-supera-o-de-criancas-no-mundo) — Number of Older Adults Surpasses that of Children in the World - [연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency](https://yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260904003000091) — Global Elderly Population Surpasses Infants for First Time in Human History… South Korea to Become the Oldest Country by 2060 - [Newser](https://newser.com/story/395828/older-adults-now-outnumber-young-children-worldwide.html) — For the First Time, Older Adults Outnumber Young Kids - [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/09/03/2563772.html) — For the first time, there are more elderly people in the world than children under the age of five - [babel.ua](https://babel.ua/news/129889-axios-u-sviti-lyudey-vikom-65-upershe-stalo-bilshe-nizh-ditey-do-p-yati-rokiv) — Axios: The World for the First Time Has More People Aged 65+ than Children Under Five - [Hot News](https://hotnews.ro/ziua-in-care-lumea-a-imbatranit-seniorii-au-depasit-numarul-copiilor-mici-la-nivel-mondial-pentru-prima-data-2340556) — World's Ageing Day: Seniors Outnumbered the Number of Young Children Worldwide for the First Time - HotNews.ro - [Life.ru](https://life.ru/p/pozhilyh-lyudey-v-mire-stalo-bolshe-chem-malenkih-detey) — Older People in the World Are Bigger than Young Children - [End Time Headlines](https://endtimeheadlines.org/2026/09/for-the-first-time-in-history-older-adults-now-outnumber-the-youngest-children-worldwide) — For the first time in history, Older adults now outnumber the youngest children worldwide - [IBTimes](https://ibtimes.com/older-people-surpass-young-world-first-time-history-report-3807110) — Older People Surpass The Young In The World For The First Time In History: Report - [Naftemporiki](https://naftemporiki.gr/finance/world/2156639/i-imera-poy-o-kosmos-gerase-oi-ano-ton-65-xeperasan-gia-proti-fora-ta-mikra-paidia-pagkosmios) — The Day the World Grew Old: The over-65s Outnumber Toddlers Worldwide for the First Time - [sofokleous10.gr](https://sofokleous10.gr/2026/09/03/%CE%B7-%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%AD%CF%81%CE%B1-%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%BF-%CE%BA%CF%8C%CF%83%CE%BC%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%B3%CE%AD%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%B5-%CE%BF%CE%B9-%CE%AC%CE%BD%CF%89-%CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD-65-%CE%BE) — The Day the World Grew Old: The over-65s Outnumber Toddlers Worldwide for the First Time - [Gettysburg Connection](https://gettysburgconnection.org/older-adults-now-outnumber-youngest-children-worldwide) — Older adults now outnumber youngest children worldwide - [Axios](https://axios.com/2026/09/03/older-adults-outnumber-youngest-children-globally) — Historic first: Older adults now outnumber the youngest children for the first time - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/955cb2ff16f1c2d2) — Historic first: Older adults now outnumber the youngest children for the first time - [Political Wire](https://politicalwire.com/2026/09/03/older-adults-outnumber-the-youngest-children-worldwide) — Older Adults Outnumber the Youngest Children Worldwide ## Questions **What is the main demographic change reported?** The world has reached a historic demographic milestone where, for the first time, the number of people aged 65 and over has exceeded the number of children aged five and under. This shift is driven by a global decline in birth rates and an increase in life expectancy. **What are the projections for the elderly population?** The US Census Bureau projects that the number of people aged 65 and over will grow from 852 million in 2025 to 2 billion by 2060. This age group is expected to account for approximately 55% of the world's total population growth in the coming decades. **How has the global fertility rate changed?** In 2023, over 71% of the global population lived in countries with fertility rates at or below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. This is a significant increase from 2013, when only 45% of the global population lived in such countries. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/global-population-of-over-65s-exceeds-children-under-five-for-first-time. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Global population of over-65s exceeds children under five for first time", https://mediabias.news/politics/global-population-of-over-65s-exceeds-children-under-five-for-first-time