Book Chapter
How populations age
Goldstein, J. R.
In: Uhlenberg, P. (Ed.): International handbook of population aging, 7–18
International handbooks of population 1
Dordrecht [et al.], Springer (2009)
ISBN 978-1-4020-8355-6
Abstract
In this chapter, I explain how changes in rates of birth, death, and
migration act to change the age structure of populations. I present
commonly used measures of population aging and give an overview of
world population aging. Simple mathematical results for stable and
non-stable populations are presented. Finally, I discuss adaptation to
population aging, notably the different nature of aging caused by
fewer births as opposed to longer lives. Examples of population aging
are illustrated using the historical and forecast populations of India,
Sweden, and Vietnam.
Keywords: demographic transition, fertility, migration, mortality