According to the BBS, the rate for people over the age of 65 is set to increase between 2019 and 2023, except for 2022. In 2019, people above 65 years of age constituted 5.28 percent of the total population. It increased to 5.34 in 2020, 5.72 in 2021. However, it will reduce to 5.67 in 2022. This ratio will increase to 6.14 percent in 2023.
BBS says that the proportion of people above 50 years of age has also increased. The rate for people between 50 and 65 years was 16.9 percent. It will increase to 18.4 percent in 2023. As a result, the rate of dependent people has increased. In 2019, the number of dependent elderly people was 8 percent of the total population. It will increase to 9.4 percent in 2023.
Due to increase in the number of elderly people, the average age of people has also increased. The average age in 2019 was 28.96. It increased to 29.26 in 2023.
The average age of women is higher than the average age of men. In 2023, the average age of women was 29.42 while the average age of men was 29.09.
*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print and online editions, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam
