[Population forecasts 1996: less population growth, increased aging]

Abstract

"According to the new national population forecasts for the Netherlands for the period 1996-2050, the population size will continue to grow for another three decades. It will reach a maximum of 17.2 million, lower than the maximum according to the previous population forecasts.... The reason for this lower growth is that the assumption with respect to the future level of fertility is revised downwards.... Another adjustment of the forecasts is the assumption that life expectancy at birth will continue to increase until 2050, whereas in the previous forecasts life expectancy was held constant after 2010.... As a consequence of these revised assumptions the percentage of elderly people will increase more strongly." (SUMMARY IN ENG)