What percentage of the world's population was 60 or older in 1950?

• A. 12
• B. 8
• C. 17
• D. 22

Answer: (B)

Think about how population aging works. In 1950, life expectancy was lower and birth rates were higher, so relatively few people reached age 60. The global share of 60+ was about eight percent, meaning roughly one in twelve people worldwide were 60 or older. That small share reflects the demographic structure of that era, before widespread longevity gains and fertility declines reshaped age composition. The other options imply a much larger elderly slice than existed then; those higher percentages are more typical of later decades or projections, not 1950. So the best answer is the roughly eight percent.