DEMOGRAPHY OF AGING POPULATION IN NIGERIA: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

Population is a dynamic phenomenon that changes over time. The change in size of the population often 
manifests in the three common age structures namely the children (age 0-14), working age (15-65) and aged 
population (65 and above). The first two structures normally move towards aging.. In the mean, the third age 
group of those from age 65 and above (though age 60 is used in this paler) accounts for the least proportion 
of population. The proportion of people in the third age group appears to have increased in rate. Therefore, 
this paper examines demography of aging population in Nigeria. The paper revealed that the population of 
people 60 years and above that was enumerated as 5% in 2006, for the first time in 2018, increased to 
outnumber the population of under 5 children. Not only that, the projected population for the aged would 
surpass the adolescent and youth populations by 2050. Therefore, it is recommended that government should 
take urgent action to provide the necessities (economic, social, political, and physical) required for the aged 
group in Nigeria.