International Day of Older Persons
International Day of Older Persons
The share of older persons is growing, both in Slovenia and in the EU. Older persons in Slovenia are on average less educated than the population in general, but their educational level is improving. Older persons use the Internet less frequently than the others do, but their share is increasing.
Slovenia’s population is ageing
On 1 January this year, 453,708 residents of Slovenia were 65+ years old. Their share in total population is increasing. Between 1991 and 2023, it grew by 10.6 percentage points, i.e. from 10.8% in 1991 to 21.4% in 2023. The average age of the population is also growing: at the beginning of 1991 it was 35.9 years and at the beginning of 2023 44.0 years or more than 8 years higher. As regards municipalities, on average the youngest were residents of Komenda (39.3 years) and the oldest residents of Osilnica (52.1 years).
The old age dependency ratio, which shows how many persons aged 65+ are dependent on 100 persons in employment, is also rising. At the beginning of this year, the ratio was 33.7, which was 14.1 points more than at the end of 1999. The ratio was the lowest in municipality Benedikt (20.4) and the highest in municipality Osilnica (64.0).
In 2022, the share of persons aged 65+ in total population was the highest in Italy (23.8%) and the lowest in Luxembourg (14.8%). The EU-27 average was 21.1%, exactly the same as in Slovenia.
The level of education of older persons lower than the average
Last year, 21.9% of total Slovenia’s population had basic education or less, while the share among 65+-year-olds was 36.5%. It was exactly the opposite as regards tertiary education. The share in total population was 25.5% and among 65+-year-olds 14.9%.
The educational structure is improving. The share of tertiary educated people increased between 2012 and 2022 by 6.7 percentage points (from 18.8% to 25.5%), while among 65+-year-olds it grew by 4.2 percentage points (from 10.7% to 14.9%). Among older persons, the share of persons with basic education or less declined by 11.2 percentage points (from 47.7% to 36.5%), while the decline for total population was slightly smaller: in 2012, the share was 28.1% and in 2022 21.9%.
Older persons represent 1.4% of persons in employment
There were 628,082 pension recipients in Slovenia in 2022. Most of them were receiving old-age pensions (470,501). The average old-age pension amounted to EUR 782 (average monthly net earnings amounted to EUR 1,319).
Almost 13,000 residents of Slovenia aged 65+ were in employment in 2022, which is 1.4% of all persons in employment. The largest share of men (30.3% of all men in employment aged 65+) worked in agriculture, forestry and fishing, followed by professional, scientific and technical activities (12.3%). The largest share of women (24.5% of all women in employment aged 65+) also worked in agriculture, forestry and fishing, followed by human health and social work activities (17.9%).
Older persons are using the Internet more and more
The number of Internet users among older persons (65–74 years) is rising. In 2007, 6.9% of them used the Internet at least once in the three months before the survey, while in 2022 the share was 60.5%. The share of those who have never used the Internet is falling. In 2007, it was 92.3%, and in 2022 32.5%. Why some older persons did not use the Internet last year? The largest number (59,500 or 24.1%) thought that they do not need to, while 14.3% stated lack of skills as the reason.
The share of older persons (65–74 let) who have already purchased something online is also rising. In 2007, it was 2.2%, and in 2022 30.0%. The share was the highest in 2021 (38.4%), probably due to measures to combat COVID-19.
28 grooms and 19 brides aged 65+ married for the first time
It is never too late to marry. Last year, 163 men and 86 women aged 65+ were married. The youngest bride of a groom aged 65+ was 25¬–29 years old. Most grooms aged 65+ (45.4%) married brides aged 65+. The youngest groom of a bride aged 65+ was 45–49 years old. Most brides aged 65+ (86.0%) married grooms aged 65+. In 2022, 28 grooms and 19 brides aged 65+ married for the first time. On the other hand, 167 men and 94 women aged 65+ were divorced.
What is the outlook?
According to EUROPOP2023 population projections, by 2100 the population of Slovenia is expected to decline by 7.8%. However, the number of older persons (65+) is expected to increase by 37.7%; the number of older men by 59.2% and the number of older women by 21.1%. The share of older persons in total population is expected to grow to 32.1% in 2100: older men are expected to account for 31.1% of all men and older women for 33.2% of all women.
On 1 January this year, 453,708 residents of Slovenia were 65+ years old. Their share in total population is increasing. Between 1991 and 2023, it grew by 10.6 percentage points, i.e. from 10.8% in 1991 to 21.4% in 2023. The average age of the population is also growing: at the beginning of 1991 it was 35.9 years and at the beginning of 2023 44.0 years or more than 8 years higher. As regards municipalities, on average the youngest were residents of Komenda (39.3 years) and the oldest residents of Osilnica (52.1 years).
The old age dependency ratio, which shows how many persons aged 65+ are dependent on 100 persons in employment, is also rising. At the beginning of this year, the ratio was 33.7, which was 14.1 points more than at the end of 1999. The ratio was the lowest in municipality Benedikt (20.4) and the highest in municipality Osilnica (64.0).
In 2022, the share of persons aged 65+ in total population was the highest in Italy (23.8%) and the lowest in Luxembourg (14.8%). The EU-27 average was 21.1%, exactly the same as in Slovenia.
The level of education of older persons lower than the average
Last year, 21.9% of total Slovenia’s population had basic education or less, while the share among 65+-year-olds was 36.5%. It was exactly the opposite as regards tertiary education. The share in total population was 25.5% and among 65+-year-olds 14.9%.
The educational structure is improving. The share of tertiary educated people increased between 2012 and 2022 by 6.7 percentage points (from 18.8% to 25.5%), while among 65+-year-olds it grew by 4.2 percentage points (from 10.7% to 14.9%). Among older persons, the share of persons with basic education or less declined by 11.2 percentage points (from 47.7% to 36.5%), while the decline for total population was slightly smaller: in 2012, the share was 28.1% and in 2022 21.9%.
Older persons represent 1.4% of persons in employment
There were 628,082 pension recipients in Slovenia in 2022. Most of them were receiving old-age pensions (470,501). The average old-age pension amounted to EUR 782 (average monthly net earnings amounted to EUR 1,319).
Almost 13,000 residents of Slovenia aged 65+ were in employment in 2022, which is 1.4% of all persons in employment. The largest share of men (30.3% of all men in employment aged 65+) worked in agriculture, forestry and fishing, followed by professional, scientific and technical activities (12.3%). The largest share of women (24.5% of all women in employment aged 65+) also worked in agriculture, forestry and fishing, followed by human health and social work activities (17.9%).
Older persons are using the Internet more and more
The number of Internet users among older persons (65–74 years) is rising. In 2007, 6.9% of them used the Internet at least once in the three months before the survey, while in 2022 the share was 60.5%. The share of those who have never used the Internet is falling. In 2007, it was 92.3%, and in 2022 32.5%. Why some older persons did not use the Internet last year? The largest number (59,500 or 24.1%) thought that they do not need to, while 14.3% stated lack of skills as the reason.
The share of older persons (65–74 let) who have already purchased something online is also rising. In 2007, it was 2.2%, and in 2022 30.0%. The share was the highest in 2021 (38.4%), probably due to measures to combat COVID-19.
28 grooms and 19 brides aged 65+ married for the first time
It is never too late to marry. Last year, 163 men and 86 women aged 65+ were married. The youngest bride of a groom aged 65+ was 25¬–29 years old. Most grooms aged 65+ (45.4%) married brides aged 65+. The youngest groom of a bride aged 65+ was 45–49 years old. Most brides aged 65+ (86.0%) married grooms aged 65+. In 2022, 28 grooms and 19 brides aged 65+ married for the first time. On the other hand, 167 men and 94 women aged 65+ were divorced.
What is the outlook?
According to EUROPOP2023 population projections, by 2100 the population of Slovenia is expected to decline by 7.8%. However, the number of older persons (65+) is expected to increase by 37.7%; the number of older men by 59.2% and the number of older women by 21.1%. The share of older persons in total population is expected to grow to 32.1% in 2100: older men are expected to account for 31.1% of all men and older women for 33.2% of all women.
When making use of the data and information of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, always add: "Source: SURS". More: Copyright.
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