In 2014, 18.5% of the EU population was aged 65 or over.
The share of the elderly in the population differs considerably between Member States. In 2014, the highest share was recorded in Italy (21.4%) and the lowest in Ireland (12.6%).
Since 1974, the share of the elderly in the population has increased in all Member States.
Article on “Statistics on an ageing society”
Article on “Population structure and ageing”
Statistics on “Age equality”
Directorate-General “Economic and Financial Affairs”: The 2015 Ageing Report: Underlying Assumptions and Projection Methodologies
Directorate-General “Research and Innovation”: Population ageing in Europe
Directorate-General “Research and Innovation”: Silver economy
In 2013, women at the age of 65 in the EU could expect to live 21.3 more years and men 17.9 years.
The highest life expectancies for women as well as for men at the age of 65 were recorded in France (women: 23.6 years, men: 19.3 years) and Spain (women: 23.4 years, men: 19.2 years).
Article on “Statistics on an ageing society”
Article on “Quality of life indicators - health”
Statistics on “Life expectancy”
Directorate-General “Public Health”: European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing
In 2013, women at the age of 65 in the EU can expect to live 8.6 more healthy life years and men 8.5 years.
The highest numbers of healthy life years at the age of 65 were recorded in Sweden (women: 13.8 years, men: 12.9 years), Malta (women: 12.7 years, men: 12.8 years) and Denmark (women: 12.7 years, men: 11.6 years).
Article on “Statistics on an ageing society”
Article on “Health statistics at regional level”
Dedicated section on “Health status”
Directorate-General “Public Health”: Healthy life years
In 2011, the vast majority (90.4%) of the elderly in the EU were born in the country where they lived, while 5.5% were born in another Member State and 4.1% in a country outside the EU.
Among the Member States, the highest shares of the elderly who were born in the country where they live were recorded in Finland (99.4%), Romania and Bulgaria (both 98.8%).
The highest shares of the elderly who were born in another Member State were recorded in Luxembourg (25.4%) and Germany (16.3%).
The highest shares of the elderly who were born in a country outside the EU were recorded in Estonia (32.8%) and Latvia (28.7%).
Article on “Statistics on origin of residents”
Article on “Statistics on European cities”
Directorate-General “Migration and Home Affairs”: Policies
In 2014, 31.4% of the population aged 65 or over in the EU were living alone, compared with 14.0% of the total population.
Among the elderly, the share of the population living alone ranged from 44.8% in Lithuania and 40.3% in Denmark to 20.8% in Cyprus and 23.3% in Spain.
Article on “Statistics on an ageing society”
Statistics on “Income and living conditions”
Directorate-General “Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion”: Why older women are much more exposed to the risk of poverty than older men
In 2011, 6.8% of the population aged 65 to 84 and 1.6% of those aged 85 or over were economically active (employed or unemployed) in the EU, compared with 75.7% of the population aged 20 to 64.
The highest shares of those aged 65-84 still economically active were recorded in Romania (20.8%) and Sweden (12.3%) and the lowest in Slovenia (0.4%) and Croatia (1.8%). In all Member States, fewer than 3% of people aged 85 and over were economically active, except in Romania (9.6%) and Spain (3.6%).
Article on “Statistics on an ageing society”
Statistics on the labour market
Statistics on “Age equality / Labour market”
Directorate-General “Employment, Social affairs and Inclusion”: Information on active ageing
In 2014, 48.1% of the EU population aged 65 and over travelled (meaning they made at least one trip including at least one overnight stay), compared with 60.0% of the population aged 15 or over.
The highest shares of elderly tourists among the elderly population were observed in Sweden (85.9%), the Netherlands (70.5%) and Finland (69.3%), and the lowest in Bulgaria (11.0%), Romania (11.7%) and Greece (23.3%).
Article on “Statistics on an ageing society”
Article on “Tourism statistics - participation in tourism”
Statistics on “Tourism”
Directorate-General “Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs”: Tourism
Elderly people are less often online than younger generations. However, in 2015, 41% of those aged 65 to 74 used the internet at least once a week, compared with 79% of the population aged 25 to 64.
This share has more than tripled since 2007, when only 13% of the elderly population used the internet at least once a week, compared with 52% of the population aged 25 to 64.
In 2015, the highest shares of persons aged 65 to 74 using the internet at least once a week were observed in Luxembourg (81%), Denmark (76%) and the Netherlands (75%), and the lowest in Bulgaria and Romania (both 10%), and Greece (12%).
Article on “Statistics on an ageing society”
Article on “Internet use statistics – individuals”
Dedicated section on “Digital inclusion”
Statistics on “Age equality / Information society”
Directorate-General “Digital Agenda for Europe”: Research and innovation for ageing well with ICT
All data used come from Eurostat.
Data may differ from those presented in the flagship publication, due to updates made after the extractions used for the publication.
Date of data extraction: 08 December 2015 and 10 March 2016 (data on internet use).
n.a. = not available
If you have questions on the data, please contact the Eurostat User Support.
