Many countries are facing an aging population, including Romania. The number of inhabitants is falling alarmingly, and in a decade it would reach the level after the Second World War, according to a United Nations report.
In 2031, the elderly will outnumber the young. PHOTO Shutterstock (Archive)
In addition, in the next 10 years the number of young people will be smaller than that of older people. Behind this alarming population decline, experts say, are rising average ages, falling birthrates, increasing access to healthcare and increasing life expectancy.
According to estimates, every 10 years we face the loss of one million people, and the significant decrease of active people places Romania in the category of states that register the greatest demographic decline.
Seven years from now, in 2031 to be exact, the elderly will outnumber the young, and the gap will increase even further thereafter. Also, the average age of people continues to increase, not only in our country, but worldwide.
In addition to the worldwide phenomenon of postponing the moment of starting a family in developed countries, Romania will have to face a moment that will mark a sudden change in terms of the number of employed people and the number of those who do not have a job: the one in which decrees will be retired.
Thus, we are talking about the consequences of the rapid aging of the population: the economy will experience slow growth, and the state budget will have to face a huge reduction in the level of taxes collected.
At the same time, if the current public pension system is preserved, state pensions will represent an increasingly difficult expense to bear, as will the pressure on the health system exerted by the aging population.
