Show Ratio of Elders Doubles in Century The ratio of elders to those at atthe atthe atthe the main working years of life lite has doubled in the United States during the past century and has increased by nearly two thirds since 1900 One hundred years ago there were only about six persons at age 65 or older for each of the population at 20 to 64 By 1000 1900 the I ratio had climbed to eight and since then it has risen even more rapidly and is now 13 13 a Although the segment of the population pop pop- at 65 or over has been increasing increasing in in- creasing the relative importance of the dependent population as a whole has declined due to a rapid I drop in the ratio of children to the population at the main productive ages The number of children under under un un- Under der 18 per persons at ages 2004 2064 2064 20 64 04 has been cut in half halt from in 1850 to about 54 in 1950 1050 In very recent years however due to the war and postwar spurt in the birth rate this trend has been reversed and the child population population lation has increased at a more rapid rate than people at ages 20 64 This will continue for at least leasta a n decade even if allowance is made for a steady decline in the birth rate from its present level and at the same time the population population population tion at the older ages will continue its term long-term upward climb As a Q result we are entering a period when the country will have to provide for the expanding social and economic needs of both its large child and aged populations each growing at a Q faster rate than the population at the main work ing Lug ages |