Proportion of the population aged 65 and over between 1940 and 2040- Task 1 Line Graph

You should spend 20 minutes on this task.

The graph below shows the proportion of the population aged 65 and over between 1940 and 2040 in three different countries.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

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Model Answer 1

The line graph presents us with the percentage ratio of people aged 65 years or older to the number of the gross population between 1940 and 2040 for Japan, Sweden and USA.

Overall, throughout the entire period, USA and Sweden had an upward trend of the percentage share of 65 and above age group people. However, the elderly group’s share initially experienced a steady decline in Japan, but it is expected to rise exponentially and eventually overtake that of the other two countries by the end of the given period.

In 1940, percentage share of 65 and above age group people to the entire population of USA and Sweden were about 9 and 7 percent, respectively, and these ratios kept rising along the period 1960-1980. Afterwards, experiencing a slight decline for around 12 years, Sweden’s rate of elderly population started climbing till 2014, while that of USA remained stagnant along the same period. However, from 2026 onwards, both countries are expected to experience a rising trend of their 65 and above aged population growth compared to the rest.

On the other hand, in 1940, Japan’s aged people contained only 5 percent of its entire population, which was the lowest among the stated three countries. Furthermore, this percentage share continued declining until 1960 and remained stable in the next 28 years. However, from 1988 onwards, the ratio of Japan’s aged group to the total population of the country has been going through a smooth rise which is expected to continue till 2030. Most importantly, approximately from 2030 to 2035, Japan is expected to see a vertical rise of the share of elderly population in its society, and it might be followed by a moderate increasing trend from 2035 onwards.

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Model Answer 2

The line graph presents a comparative analysis of the proportion of the population aged 65 and over from 1940 through to a forecast for 2040 across three countries: Sweden, the USA, and Japan.

The overview of the graph reveals a notable trend where each country experienced an increase in the proportion of their elderly population over the 100-year period, with particularly stark growth projected for Japan. While the USA and Sweden showed a gradual rise, Japan's figures were initially the lowest but are predicted to surpass the other two countries by 2040.

Delving into specifics, in 1940, between 5 to 10 percent of the population in the USA and Sweden were aged 65 and above, compared to Japan's lower figure of under 5 percent. The subsequent decades saw a steady increase for the USA and Sweden, with both reaching approximately 15 percent by 1980. Conversely, Japan's proportion of the population aged 65 and over decreased slightly during the same period.

However, the turn of the millennium marked a dramatic shift for Japan, with a sharp escalation that suggests a surging trend leading up to 2040, where it is anticipated to exceed 25 percent, overshadowing the projections for both the USA and Sweden. By contrast, the USA and Sweden are expected to experience a more moderate ascent in the proportion of their elderly populations, though both will also see an increase beyond their current statistics. This data implies significant demographic shifts and potentially reflects the advancements in healthcare and longevity in these nations.

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Model Answer 3

The line graph presents a comparison of the percentage of individuals aged 65 and above within the populaces of the USA, Sweden, and Japan, spanning a century from 1940 to 2040.

The most striking observation from the graph is the overall upward trajectory in the proportion of the population aged 65 and over across all three nations, with notable fluctuations and a particularly steep incline predicted for Japan in the latter decades. While the USA and Sweden display a progressive increase over the years, Japan's figure initially descends before ascending sharply post-1990.

In the initial year of 1940, the USA led with just under 10% of its population being elderly, overshadowed slightly by Sweden at around 7%, and Japan commenced with the smallest elderly population at 5%. From there, the USA and Sweden experienced growths in their elderly proportions, with the USA's percentage gently ebbing post-1980 before resuming its rise, and Sweden's proportion displaying intermittent declines between the 1980s to 2020s.

Japan's proportion of the population aged 65 and over, conversely, underwent a decrease until 1990, after which a remarkable surge is forecasted, overtaking both the USA and Sweden by 2040. This amplification is anticipated to continue unabated, culminating in Japan housing the largest percentage of the elderly, whereas the USA is projected to have the smallest by 2040. This trend underscores significant demographic shifts, particularly in Japan, suggesting profound societal and economic implications for the future.

Model Answer 4

The line chart elucidates the trends in the proportion of the population aged 65 and above across a span of a hundred years, from 1940 to a projected point in 2040, for the United States, Sweden, and Japan.

In a broad overview, it's evident that all three nations have experienced an upward trajectory in their elderly demographics, with Japan's growth appearing particularly steep towards the latter years. The United States and Sweden show a more gradual yet consistent increase, converging on a similar figure by 2040.

Delving into specifics, the United States began the period with the largest proportion of the population aged 65 and over, starting just below 10%. This figure ascended steadily over the next 60 years, hitting the 15% mark as the millennium turned. Projections suggest a continuation of this pattern, with expectations set for the proportion to surge to approximately 25% by 2040. Similarly, Sweden's trajectory mirrors this progression but commenced from a slightly lower baseline of about 7%. Its anticipated growth runs parallel to the U.S., also reaching near 25% by 2040.

Japan presents a contrasting narrative. The proportion of the population aged 65 and over remained the lowest among the trio for the initial 65 years, hovering beneath 5%. Post-2005, the growth accelerated at an unprecedented pace, surpassing both the U.S. and Sweden. By 2040, it is projected that nearly 30% of Japan's population will be elderly, marking the highest proportion among the compared countries. This substantial rise underscores a significant demographic shift, indicating that by 2040, the proportion of the population aged 65 and over will constitute a substantial segment, with nearly one in four individuals in these nations falling into this age bracket.

Model Answer 5

The line graph presents a comparative analysis of the proportion of the population aged 65 and over in Japan, Sweden, and the United States from 1940 projected through to 2040.

An overarching trend evident from the graph is the universally escalating proportion of the population aged 65 and over across all three nations, with Japan expected to undergo a remarkable surge post-2030, overtaking both Sweden and the United States by 2040. Notably, while the trajectory of Sweden and the United States demonstrates a steady climb throughout the century, Japan's growth curve is characterized by a delayed yet steeper ascent.

From 1940 to the close of the 20th century, Japan maintained a relatively low percentage of older adults, consistently staying under 5%. In contrast, Sweden and the United States exhibited a moderate rise, surpassing the 10% mark by the 1980s. The 1990s mark a period of slight decline for Sweden and the United States, a prelude to the pronounced growth that followed. By 2010, Sweden's proportion of the population aged 65 and over escalated to 20%, with the United States holding at 15% and Japan beginning to accelerate, reaching 7%.

Forecasting ahead to 2040, projections suggest a dramatic augmentation in the proportion of the population aged 65 and over, with Japan's percentage expected to more than double, exceeding 25%. This anticipated growth positions Japan at the pinnacle of the comparison, with Sweden mirroring this figure and the United States following closely at 23%.

Model Answer 6

The line graph provides a comparative analysis of the proportion of the population aged 65 and over from 1940 through to a projection for 2040 in Japan, Sweden, and the United States.

An overarching trend observed from the graph is the universal upward trajectory in the proportion of the population aged 65 and over across all three nations. Notably, Japan, which commenced as the country with the smallest percentage of elderly in 1940, is projected to surpass the others by 2040, becoming the country with the most substantial elderly population. In contrast, while both Sweden and the USA exhibit a consistent increase, their growth appears more linear and less pronounced than that of Japan.

Delving into specifics, Japan's initial 5% elderly population in 1940 was half that of the USA's 10% at the time. Throughout the mid-20th century, the proportion of the population aged 65 and over in Japan diminished slightly, only to surge upwards from the 1980s onwards. This sharp incline is poised to escalate post-2020, positioning Japan at the forefront with the highest proportion of elderly by 2040. In direct comparison, Sweden and the USA maintained a gradual and steady incline from approximately 6% and 9% respectively in 1940, with projections indicating a rise to nearly one-quarter of their populations by 2040.

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