In 2016, 19.2% of the EU population was aged 65 or over.
The share of the elderly in the population differs considerably between Member States. In 2016, the highest share was recorded in Italy (22.0%) and the lowest in Ireland (13.2%).
Since 1976, 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”
European Commission: Ageing and welfare state policies
Directorate-General “Research and Innovation”: Population ageing in Europe
European Innovation Partnership: Active and Healthy Ageing through Europe
In 2015, women at the age of 65 in the EU could expect to live 21.2 more years and men 17.9 years.
The highest life expectany for women as well as for men at the age of 65 was recorded in France (women: 23.5 years, men: 19.4 years) and Spain (women: 23.0 years, men: 19.0 years).
Article on “Mortality and life expectancy statistics”
Article on “Statistics on an ageing society”
Statistics on “Life expectancy”
Directorate-General “Public Health”: State of health in the EU
In 2015, both women and men at the age of 65 in the EU can expect to live 9.4 more healthy life years.
The highest numbers of healthy life years at the age of 65 were recorded in Sweden (women: 16.8 years, men: 15.7 years), Malta (women: 14.0 years, men: 13.4 years) and Germany (women: 12.3 years, men: 11.4 years).
Article on “Statistics on an ageing society”
Article on “Healthy live years”
Dedicated section on “Health status”
Directorate-General “Public Health”: Healthy life years
In 2015, 32.1% of the population aged 65 or over in the EU were living alone, compared with 14.4% of the total population.
Among the elderly, the share of the population living alone ranged from 45.9% in Lithuania and 39.8% in both Denmark and Estonia to 17.6% in Cyprus and 23.9% in Greece.
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 2016, 9.5% of the population aged 65 to 74 were economically active (employed or unemployed) in the EU, compared with 77.5% of the population aged 20 to 64.
The highest shares of those aged 65-74 still economically active were recorded in Estonia (26.0%) and the United Kingdom (16.8%) and the lowest in Luxembourg (2.7%) as well as Belgium and Spain (both 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 2015, 48.8% of the EU population aged 65 and over travelled (meaning they made at least one trip including at least one overnight stay), compared with 61.0% of the population aged 15 or over.
The highest shares of elderly tourists among the elderly population were observed in Denmark (83.7%), Sweden (80.4%) and the Netherlands (72.1%), and the lowest in Bulgaria (11.0%), Romania (13.5%) and Croatia (19.1%).
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 2016, 45% of those aged 65 to 74 used the internet at least once a week, compared with 82% 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 2016, the highest shares of persons aged 65 to 74 using the internet at least once a week were observed in Luxembourg (88%), Denmark (81%) and Sweden(80%) and the lowest in Bulgaria (12%), Romania (13%) and Greece (14%).
Article on “Statistics on an ageing society”
Article on “Internet access and use statistics – households and 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 come from Eurostat.
Data differ from those presented in the flagship publication due to the update of the tool in September 2017.
Date of data extraction: 14.09.2017.
n.a. = not available
If you have questions on the data, please contact the Eurostat User Support.