Portugal becomes fastest aging country in EU: study
22 Aug 2022 09:08am
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In the past three decades, the elderly population tripled in the country, according to the study, Xinhua said based on data from the Portuguese National Statistics Institute (INE) and published by Publico newspaper.
In 1990, Portugal registered 66 elderly for every 100 young people.
Portugal recorded an annual aging rate of 3.6 per cent, higher than all EU countries, the study noted.
According to Jorge Malheiros, researcher at the Centre for Geographical Studies of the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning at the University of Lisbon, the accelerated growth of the aging rate in Portugal is the result of the departure of young people from the country and the entry of foreigners who are already retired.
"This should not be understood as something dramatic," said the specialist in migration and demography. But he also warned that "societies need the energy of young people".
"We have to learn to live with an older society," said Malheiros. - BERNAMA
