Longevity Economy Principles

The World Economic Forum's report proposes a holistic framework for the 'longevity economy,' focusing on six core principles: ensuring financial resilience during life events, providing universal financial education, prioritizing healthy ageing, evolving jobs for a multigenerational workforce, designing for social connection, and addressing longevity inequalities. It argues that public-private collaboration is essential to prevent systemic financial instability and social isolation as the global population over 60 is projected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050.

• Global population ageing is accelerating, with the number of people aged over 60 projected to increase from 1 billion in 2020 to more than 2.1 billion by 2050.
• There is a significant risk of systemic fiscal deficits if ageing-related policies are not adjusted; a survey of 81 countries suggests typical government deficits could rise from 2.4% of GDP in 2025 to 9.1% by 2060.
• Financial instability is widespread, with nearly 40% of people globally facing instability after unplanned career interruptions, and 41% of adults globally finding it impossible or very difficult to access emergency money within 30 days.
• Global financial literacy is low, with only 33% of the population deemed financially literate, which correlates with wealth and life expectancy inequalities.
• Healthy ageing is critical because approximately one-fifth of an individual's life is now expected to be lived with illness or morbidity.
• Older workers face significant barriers to employment despite a desire to work; 19-25% of adults aged 55 and older in a 21-country survey wish to work in old age but cannot find opportunities.
• Failure to employ older adults in high-income economies represents a potential loss of $5 trillion in incremental annual GDP.
• Loneliness and social isolation have severe health and economic impacts, including a 50% increased risk of dementia and significant costs to healthcare systems, such as $6.7 billion in additional annual US Medicare spending.
• Longevity inequalities are stark across gender, race, and class; for example, women aged 65+ in OECD countries receive 26% less retirement income than men, and in the US, the richest individuals can live up to 30 years longer than the poorest.
• Unpaid caregiving, primarily performed by women, creates a significant economic burden; in the US, family caregivers lose an estimated $522 billion in wages annually.

APA

World Economic Forum (2024). Longevity Economy Principles. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Longevity_Economy_Principles_2024.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Longevity Economy Principles. 2024. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Longevity_Economy_Principles_2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Longevity Economy Principles |date=January 2024 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Longevity_Economy_Principles_2024.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2024longevity, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Longevity Economy Principles}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2024}, month = jan, url = {https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Longevity_Economy_Principles_2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }