The graph shows the increase in the ageing population in Japan, Sweden and the USA. It ind
icates that the percentage of elderly people in all three countries is expected to increas
e to almost 25% of the respective populations by the year 2040.In 1940 the proportion of p
eople aged 65 or more stood at only 5% in Japan, approximately 7% in Sweden and 9% in the
US. However, while the figures for the Western countries grew to about 15% in around 1990,
the figure for Japan dipped to only 2.5% for much of this period, before rising to almost
5% again at the present time.In spite of some fluctuation in the expected percentages, th
e proportion of older people will probably continue to increase in the next two decades in
the three countries. A more dramatic rise is predicted between 2030 and 2040 in Japan, by
which time it is thought that the proportion of elderly people will be similar in the thr
ee countries.