Soon older people will outnumber children!

For the first time in history we are crossing a demographic landmark of such social and economic magnitude that over 65s will outnumber children under 5 , says a report in the Guardian.

When this happens it will have far reaching effects on both rich and poor nations. Nations will be have to finance over one billion pensioners by the year 2040 and make sure that older people living alone receive the levels of care that they need.

The information is drawn from a new report called An Ageing World: 2008. It says that in ten years' time children will be outnumbered by older people for the first time. There is an expected increase of over 65s over the next 30 years from 506 million in 2008, (7 per cent of the world's population) to 3 billion, (14 per cent).

Even now the numbers of over 65s are increasing at a monthly average of 870,000 and the rate of growth and numbers are expected to rise rapidly in the next two years. The increase of this generation is due to a combination of two factors: people are living longer due to improved healthcare and knowledge and the postwar baby boom!

  What's this?