How Does Australia's Population Increase Life Expectancy?

Australia 's population, like that of most Western.countries, is ageing as a result of sustained low fertility and increasing life expectancy. Over the next several decades, population ageing is projected to have significant implications for Australia, and particularly for the institution of health care and allied industries. In the 12 months to 30 June 2010, Australia 's population increased by 377,100 people, reaching 22,342,000. The annual growth rate for the year ended 30 June 2010 (1.7%) was lower than that recorded for the year ended 30 June 2009 (2.2%) Australian Bureau of Statistics (2013). Between 2000 and 2050, the proportion of the world 's population over 60 years will double from about 11% to 22%. The absolute number of people aged 60 years and over is expected to increase from 605 million to 2 billion over the same period, World Health Organization (WHO) (2013)
Although trends differ between countries, populations of nearly all such countries are ageing as a result of low fertility, low immigration, and long lives. A key question is: are increases in life expectancy accompanied by a concurrent postponement of functional limitations and disability? Research suggests that ageing processes are modifiable and that people are living longer without severe disability. This finding, together with technological and medical development and redistribution of work, is important for our chances to meet the challenges of ageing