WP 48 - Population ageing in the Netherlands: Demographic and financial arguments for a balanced approach

Population ageing in the Netherlands: Demographic and Financial arguments for a balanced approach

outcomes. At present, we can only be certain about the outcomes up until the last generation, born
around 1920, which has almost died out.

Table 1 Life expectancy (years) based on calendar and cohort according to sex and age

Source: see Figure 1.

The calendar data relate to different birth cohorts. The 0-year-olds are born in 2046-50, 2001-05,
1956-60 or 1861-65 respectively and the 65-year-olds in the years 1981-85, 1936-40, 1891-95 and
even 1796-1800. The total gain of 7.1 years for 65-year-old men is based on a comparison between
people born at the height of the French Revolution and those who are now aged about 25 and who
will turn 65 in 2046-50. Table 1 shows the difference in life expectancy between this calendar
population and the newborn cohorts who have reached the age of 65 since 1861. These cohorts
relate to exactly the same historical period of 120 years. The gain of 5.2 years for men aged 65
relates to those born in 1981-85 compared to 1861-65.

Old-age dependency

The old age dependency ratio (OADR) is defined here as the ratio of people aged 65 and over to
those aged 20 to 64, who represent the potential labour force. The calendar-OADR is the
relationship between these numbers for different people living at the same moment, whereas the

AIAS - UvA

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