Global Scans · Population · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The global population is expected to reach 8.5 billion in 2030, up 1 billion from 2016. Western economies are declining in numbers and emerging economies witnessing burgeoning growth.

• [New] China is entering a super age society and by 2030, China's elderly population will hit 260 million. Morgan Stanley
• [New] The prevalence of diabetes in America could double by 2050, due in part to the ageing of the U.S. population (Boyle et al. 2010). PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Older adults currently account for about 13% of America's population, but are projected to account for 20% by 2040. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] African continent's population is projected to reach 2.5 billion people by 2050. Food Tank
• [New] The U.S. population will grow by only 0.5% in 2025. Vistage Research Center
• [New] By 2025, one billion women within the worldwide female population will be experiencing menopause. FoodNavigator-Asia.com
• [New] Obesity and T2DM represent urgent global health challenges, with over one billion people currently living with obesity and projections suggesting more than half of the world's adult population could be affected by 2035. News-Medical
• [New] The global prevalence of high myopia is rapidly increasing, with projections indicating that nearly half of the world's population will be myopic by 2050. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] As global food security comes under pressure from climate change, population growth, and resource depletion, the FAO's strategies gain even more importance in 2026 and beyond. Farmonaut
• [New] Southeast Asia offers significant opportunities due to its large underbanked population and growing digital economy. Fintech Hong Kong
• [New] Over the next 20-30 years, capital and technology will be abundant and interest rates extremely low, but the lack of population will fundamentally reshape economic growth, debt patterns, and investment structures. / China Vision Times
• [New] The rapid growth in the world's aging population and evolving risk factors have ushered in a new era of global health challenges. CNN
• [New] By 2050, the working-age population will shrink by 16%, creating chronic labour shortages. BakuNetwork.org
• [New] The Japanese health system faces a current and enduring challenge due to inherent vulnerability in health financing as a result of growing fiscal deficit in the context of a rapidly growing ageing population, increased social expenditure, and a lower funding base. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The Japanese health system is expected to face ongoing pressures due to a growing fiscal deficit in light of population ageing and increased social security payments. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Adults aged 65 and older will comprise 22% of the U.S. population by 2030. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Global digital wallet users are projected to reach 5.2 billion by 2026, representing over 60% of the global population. CoinLaw
• [New] The global mobile wallet user base is forecasted to reach 4.3 billion in 2025, surpassing half the world's population. CoinLaw
• [New] With the population of over-65s projected to rise sharply over the next decade, maintaining free travel benefits without proper checks could become financially unsustainable. stcnorthgolf.com
• [New] The revised migration intake could increase Australia's working-age population by 1.2% annually over the next two years. Visa And Immigrations
• [New] Creating age-inclusive workplaces will be essential to filling labour shortages and managing an ageing population. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] By 2050, 20.3% of SEA's population will be elderly, increasing demand for high-protein dairy products. FoodNavigator-Asia.com

Last updated: 23 October 2025