Counting (on) an Aging Population

The population in developed countries is rapidly aging, which explains why demography--the scientific study of human population dynamics--has become such a hot topic for science and the mass media. Technical progress with respect to computing power has helped alleviate population research--in fact, most contemporary research wouldn't have been possible without the development of powerful computer hardware. This article reviews major trends in population aging with respect to Austria, France, Germany, and Italy and summarizes the methods and assumptions underlying current population projections.