Australia's seventh intergenerational report predicts that within 40 years more Australians will be dying than being born, highlighting the challenges of an ageing population and lower economic growth.
Key facts
- More Australians will be dying than being born in 40 years' time, according to the report.
- The document is the country's seventh intergenerational report (IGR).
- It outlines challenges of managing an ageing population amid lower economic growth.
- The report says Australia is at the cusp of an uncertain age of artificial intelligence.
More Australians will be dying than being born within 40 years, according to the government’s latest intergenerational report, which sets out the fundamental challenges of managing an ageing population at a time of rapid change and lower economic growth.
The country’s seventh intergenerational report, known as the IGR, lays bare the pressures facing the nation over the coming four decades, according to the Guardian.
Central to the report’s findings is the demographic shift facing Australia, with the number of deaths projected to exceed the number of births within a generation. Such a change carries significant implications for the size and composition of the population and for the economy that supports it.
The report also outlines how Australia stands at the cusp of a new and uncertain age of artificial intelligence, which is expected to shape the economy and society over the coming four decades, the Guardian reported.
Taken together, the demographic and technological trends described in the report point to a future defined by lower economic growth and an older population, presenting long-term policy challenges for the government.
The intergenerational report is a recurring government document used to assess long-term trends and their potential effects on the nation’s finances and society.
Why it matters
An ageing population where deaths outpace births reshapes the workforce, tax base and demand for services such as health and aged care. Combined with slower growth and the rise of artificial intelligence, these trends will influence government policy and the economy for decades to come.
Frequently asked questions
What is the intergenerational report?
It is a recurring government document that examines long-term trends affecting Australia. The latest is the country's seventh such report, according to the Guardian.
When will deaths outnumber births in Australia?
The report predicts more Australians will be dying than being born in 40 years' time.
What else does the report cover?
It outlines how Australia is at the cusp of a new and uncertain age of artificial intelligence that will shape the economy and society over the coming four decades.