Abstract
Purpose – The aim of this paper is to analyse the direction and pace of changes in the segment of people in identified age groups within the overall population of Polish voivodeships during the years 2000-2016 with the use of rates that describe demographic ageing phases. The analysis presents changes in the structure of the population aged 60 and -more from a regional perspective. In this structure, three age groups were distinguished: 60-74 years, 75-84 years and 85 and over. Research method – The analysis was carried out using the demographic ageing rate, coefficients representing the old age phase, sigma-convergence analysis based on the coefficient of variation and Ward’s non-linear clustering method. Data from the Local Data Bank of the Central Statistical Office were used for analyses. The data was analysed in a static approach for the selected years 2000, 2010 and 2016 and in dynamic terms for the years 2000-2016. Results – The results of the analyses show that the changes taking place in the population ageing process have different intensity in individual voivodeships. During the analysed period, the process of population ageing can be observed in all voivodeships (a growing percentage of people aged 60 and more in the total population). There are also changes in the age structure of the population in the indicated groups of demographic ageing. Gradual spatial convergence of the country with respect to the components of the structure of the elderly is evident.
Highlights
For many years, in Poland as well as all over Europe, a population ageing process has been observed, which may be defined as an increase in the number and the share of people aged 60 (WHO) or 65 (UN, Eurostat) and more(the elderly) in the total population
The results of the analyses show that the changes taking place in the population ageing process have different intensity in individual voivodeships
The main aim of this paper is to present the pace of change in the demographic ageing process, regional differentiation of the age structure of the elderly population in identified groups of the elderly in the total population during the years 2000-2016, and assessment of similarity of voivodeship structures of the elderly population
Summary
In Poland as well as all over Europe, a population ageing process has been observed, which may be defined as an increase in the number and the share of people aged 60 (WHO) or 65 (UN, Eurostat) and more(the elderly) in the total population. The most frequently applied measures are classical ones, based on population structure broken down by biological age groups (0-14, 15-64, 65 and more) or working age groups (0-14, 1559, 60 and more), i.e. the demographic ageing rate (DAR), the ageing index, demographic dependency ratios, the young-age dependency ratio, the old-age dependency ratio and generational support ratios [Clarke, 1965; Kowaleski, 2011; Długosz, 1998; Kurek, 2008; Roszkowska, 2018]. The demographic process of population ageing in Poland is associated with changes in the number and structure of the elderly. Several works have been dedicated to an analysis of the process of Poland’s population ageing from a regional perspective [Wasilewska, 2017; Podogrodzka, 2014, 2016a, 2016b; Potrykowska, 2003; Wolańska, 2013; Kowaleski, 2011]. Such research mainly focuses on the assessment of spatial differentiation in population structure by age and gender, broken down by biological or working age groups
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
