The graph below shows the proportion of the population aged 65 and over between 1940 and 2040 in three different countries. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main feature and make comparisons where relevant.

The graph illustrates the increase in the ageing population in

Japan

, Sweden and the USA. It indicates that the percentage of elderly people in all three

countries

is expected to increase to almost 25% of the respective populations by the year 2040. In 1940 the proportion of people 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, the proportion of

older

Correct article usage

the older

show examples

community 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

Correct article usage

the elderly

show examples

community will be similar in the three

countries

.