Peer Review on Social Protection and inclusion for older persons - An Europe fit for an ageing population?

The latest figures show that the European Union (EU) is home to approximately 96 million people who are older than 65 and this figure is projected to increase (Eurostat, 2024a). Upon reaching the age of 65, EU citizens can expect to live on average another 19.5 years (Eurostat, 2024a), even more in the case of women. The rising life expectancy stands as proof of the achievements of the European welfare states and social market economy. At the same time, fertility rates have steadily decreased and migration from outside of the EU has not been able to fill the gap in number of births. As a result, while the number of older people has increased in the EU, the working age population has steadily decreased. This has been putting pressure on the same welfare states that have enabled rising life expectancy in the first place. As the EU population ages, questions are raised has to the ability to further improve, or even maintain, current living standards.

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