Globally, the population of women aged 50-plus is experiencing remarkable growth. The current population of 1.9 billion adults aged 50 and over is expected to balloon by 70 percent by 2050—to 3.2 billion. Women are largely responsible for contributing to this growth. In fact, the current global population of 605 million women age 60+ as of 2020 is expected to reach 1.14 billion by 2050. Around the globe, the evolution of 50-plus women’s life expectancies, statuses, and roles situates this population as a powerful engine driving what is now recognized as the Global Longevity Economy.
The Global Longevity Economy has arrived. The Global Longevity Economy is comprised of the vast economic impact of people age 50 and over—within and across nations—driving increases in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), job creation, and income generationii. In 2020, people aged 50 and over contributed $45 trillion to global GDP; by 2050, their contribution is expected to more than double to $118 trillion. According to a recent report by AARP and Economist Impact, the global 50-plus population is making significant and increasing economic contributions. These benefits are distributed across economies of all sizes and every stage of demographic and economic development.
In this report, we describe how women aged 50-plus are leading the way through their paid work, unpaid caregiving, and purchasing power.