THE GROWING WORLD RETIREE MARKET:
Marketing Challenges and Opportunities (Part II)
By Mario G. Zavalla
We wish to acknowledge the research efforts made by the Population Division of the United Nations and Wikipedia as reference material, without which we would not have been able to prepare Parts I and II of this article. In Part I, we provided as a background the total number and distribution of the world population by country and by continent. In this second part, we presented more data to show the rapid expansion of the world population starting from the year 1804 with projected figures to 2046 and cited the demographic factors that had contributed largely to the present situation described by Richard Jackson from the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies which we quote, “The world stands on the threshold of a great demographic revolution. It’s called global ageing….”. This global phenomenon has likewise been described by the Population Division of the United Nations as, “Population ageing is unprecedented, without parallel in human history - and the twenty-first century will witness even more rapid ageing than did the century just past”.
The Growth in Global Population Continues
It is estimated that the world population reached one billion for the first time in 1804. It was another 123 years before it reached two billion in 1927, but it took only 33 years to reach three billion in 1960. Thereafter, the global population reached four billion in 1974, five billion in 1987, six billion in 1999 and, according to the United States Census Bureau, seven billion in March 2012. The United Nations, however, estimated that the world population reached seven billion in October 2011. According to current projections, the global population will reach eight billion by 2030, and will likely reach around nine billion by 2050. Alternative scenarios for 2050 range from a low of 7.4 billion to a high of more than 10.6 billion. Projected figures vary depending on underlying statistical assumptions and the variables used in projection calculations, especially the fertility variable. Long-range predictions to 2150 range from a population decline to 3.2 billion in the "low scenario", to "high scenarios" of 24.8 billion. One extreme scenario predicted a massive increase to 256 billion by 2150, assuming the global fertility rate remained at its 1995 level of 3.04 children per woman; however, by 2010 the global fertility rate had declined to 2.52.
There is no estimation for the exact day or month the world's population surpassed one or two billion. The days of three and four billion were not officially noted, but the International Database of the United States Census Bureau places them in July 1959 and April 1974. The United Nations did determine, and celebrate, the "Day of 5 Billion" on July 11, 1987, and the "Day of 6 Billion" on October 12, 1999. The "Day of 7 Billion" was declared by the Population Division of the United Nations to be October 31, 2011.
World population milestones (USCB estimates)
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Population(in billions)
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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Year
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1804
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1927
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1960
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1974
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1987
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1999
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2012
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2027
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2046
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Years elapsed between milestones
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–
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123
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33
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14
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13
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12
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13
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16
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19
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The Underlying Determinants of Global Ageing
Underlying global population ageing is a process known as the “demographic transition” in which mortality and then fertility decline from higher to lower levels. Decreasing fertility along with lengthening life expectancy has reshaped the age structure of the population in most regions of the planet by shifting relative weight from younger to older groups. The role of international migration in changing age distributions has been far less important than that of fertility and mortality.
A. FERTILITY DECLINE
Fertility decline has been the primary determinant of population ageing. Over the last half century, the total fertility rate decreased globally by almost half, from 5.0 to 2.7 children per woman. Over the next half century, it is expected to drop to the replacement level of 2.1 children per women.
As a result of the sustained decline that occurred during the twentieth century, the average total fertility rate in the more developed regions has dropped from an already low level of 2.8 children per woman in 1950-1955 to an extremely low level of 1.5 children per woman in 2000-2005. Presently, the total fertility rate is below the replacement level in practically all industrialized countries. In 19 of those countries the rate is under 1.3 children per woman.
Fertility decline in the less developed regions started later and has proceeded faster
Major fertility reductions in the less developed regions occurred, in general, during the last three decades of the twentieth century. Over the last 50 years, the average total fertility rate in those regions dropped by more than 60 per cent, from 6.2 children per woman in 1950-1955 to 2.9 in 2000-2005.
However, great disparities persist. In the least developed countries, the average total fertility rate is now 5.2 children per woman. In particular, in Eastern, Western and Middle Africa, it remains in excess of 5.5 children per woman. Meanwhile, current rates are 2.5 children per woman or less in South-central Asia, South America and the Caribbean. In 18 developing countries, the total fertility rate is estimated to be under replacement level already.
Regional differences in fertility are expected to decrease
As the transition towards lower fertility levels continues in the less developed regions, and as levels in the more developed regions are projected to increase slightly, differences in fertility among regions will tend to decrease in the future. The average total fertility rate in the less developed regions is expected to drop from the current 2.9 children per woman to 2.4 by 2025-2030, and to 2.2 by 2045-2050. The average total fertility rate in the more developed regions is projected to rise from the current 1.5 children per woman to 1.7 and 1.9 children per woman by those same periods. A particularly sharp reduction is expected for the least developed countries, where the average total fertility rate may reach 2.5 children per woman in 2045-2050, down from 5.2 in 2000-2005 and 3.6 in 2025-2030.
B. MORTALITY DECLINE
As fertility rates move towards lower levels, mortality decline, especially at older ages, assumes an increasingly important role in population ageing. Particularly in developed countries, where low fertility has prevailed for a significant period of time, relative increases in the older population are now primarily determined by improved chances of surviving to old ages. People are living longer, but large variations remain
Over the last five decades, life expectancy at birth increased globally by almost 20 years, from 46.5 years in 1950-1955 to 66.0 years in 2000-2005. On average, the gain in life expectancy at birth was 23.1 years in the less developed regions and 9.4 years in the more developed regions. Nevertheless, a considerable advantage still persists in favour of the latter. On average, at current mortality rates an individual born in the more developed regions is now expected to outlive by almost 12 years an individual born in the less developed regions. If the individual is born in the group of least developed countries, the disadvantage doubles to more than 24 years.
Great variations in life expectancy exist within the less developed regions
While in some countries and areas of the less developed regions, such as Israel, Martinique and Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, life expectancy at birth is around 79 years, in others, such as Botswana, Mozambique and Swaziland, it does not surpass 39 years. In many countries, mostly in the group of the least developed countries, low levels of life expectancy at birth are in part due to the spread of HIV. On average, life expectancy in the least developed countries lengthened by 16 years over the last half century, which is substantially less that the average for the less developed regions.
Within the more developed regions, variation in life expectancy is significantly lower than in the less developed regions. Apart from the Eastern European countries, where life expectancy at birth is currently, on average, lower than 69 years, the range in life expectancy within the more developed regions is only 11 years, from 71 years in Latvia to 82 years in Japan.
Regional differences in life expectancy at birth are expected to decrease
Over the next 50 years, life expectancy at birth is projected to increase globally by 10 years, to reach 76 years in 2045-2050. As mortality becomes more concentrated at older ages of the population, the gap in life expectancy among regions will tend to decrease. By the end of the next quarter century, life expectancy at birth is expected to reach, on average, 80 years in the more developed regions and 71 years in the less developed regions. By 2045-2050 it is expected to have risen to 82 years in the more developed regions and to 75 years in the less developed regions. Thus, an interregional gap of about 7 years is expected by 2045-2050, down from approximately 9 years in the period 2025-2030 and from almost 12 years at present.
More people will survive to older ages
Under current mortality conditions, almost 3 of every 4 newborns in the world will survive to age 60, and about 1 of every 3 to age 80. Under the mortality conditions projected for the period 2045-2050, approximately 7 of every 8 newborns would survive to age 60, and more than half to age 80.
In proportional terms, gains in life expectancy are expected to be higher at older ages
Not only are more people surviving to old age, but once there, they tend to live longer. Over the next 50 years global life expectancy at age 60 is expected to increase from 18.8 years in 2000-2005 to 22.2 years in 2045-2050 (an 18 per cent gain), from 15.3 to 18.2 years (19 per cent) at age 65 and from 7.2 to 8.8 years (22 per cent) at age 80. Those figures show that, in fact, the older the age group, the more remarkable are the expected relative gains in life expectancy. In the more developed regions, average life expectancy at age 80 is projected to increase by 27 per cent over the next half century as compared with 19 per cent at age 60 and 9 per cent at birth.
Average life expectancy at age 80 in the less developed regions is expected to increase by 28 per cent as compared with 22 per cent at age 60 and 17 per cent at birth. In the case of the least developed countries, where mortality levels at young ages remain high, proportional improvements in life expectancy during the next 50 years are still expected to be higher at birth than at older ages.
The female advantage in life expectancy at birth has widened; future trends are expected to follow
different paths
Except for a small number of countries, where cultural factors have contributed to lower female life expectancy, reductions in mortality have been substantially higher among females than males, in practically all age groups. As a result, the female advantage in life expectancy at birth increased from 2.7 to 4.2 years globally over the past 50 years. By the end of the next 50 years, the global gap is expected to increase slightly to 4.8 years.
Data Source:
Population Division-United Nations
Wikipedia
Picture-Graph Source :
World Resources Institute
Wikipedia
Related Link :
http://theprojectreview.blogspot.com/2013/10/information-growing-world-retiree.html
About the Writer :
Mario G. Zavalla is a seasoned professional who has accumulated 30 years experience in middle and top management positions in private and government corporations engaged in housing finance, commercial and investment banking, retirement promotions, manufacturing, management services and real estate development and marketing. After graduating from the Ateneo de Manila University, he took up MBA subjects at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.
He is a licensed real estate broker, a member of PAREB-Marikina Valley Real Estate Board Inc. and Philippine Institute of Real Estate Practitioners Inc. (PhilRES). He is an active online member of PAREB-MLS and PAREB Online and runs his own real estate brokerage office using the trade name The LIST and SELL REALTY GROUP, the owner and operator of The PHILISTINGS BANK.
Contacts:
Mobile: 0916-6444677 Duo: 507-5801
Principal Email: phil.listings@gmail.com
Alternate Email: supermarioz@yahoo.com.ph
Website: http://www.philrealtybank.com
