Ageing Ireland: Number of over-65s to increase by 245% within 50 years

THE Government has been urged to start planning for an ageing population as the number of over-65s is projected to increase 245% by 2060.

There are 492,700 people in the country over 65 years — 11.16% of the population. By 2060, Eurostat predicts that figure will reach 1,701,500, 25.2% of the population, an increase of more than 1.2 million.

The number of people over 80 will rise even more starkly. At present there are 122,200 people in that age bracket accounting for 2.77% of the population.