Breaking Ageing Records

This study explores subnational population ageing across Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden by examining municipalities that hold record values in three ageing measures: the share of the population aged 65 and over, mean age, and the prospective old-age dependency ratio. The analysis covers 1986-2023 for Sweden, Finland and Norway, 1998-2023 for Iceland and 2008-2023 for Denmark. The analysis reveals strikingly linear trends in record ageing, particularly for the share of the population aged 65+ and mean age, underscoring a linear increase in the upper bounds of ageing at the local level. In contrast, the prospective dependency ratio shows more varied patterns. The identity of record-holding municipalities also varies, with Denmark and Iceland showing stable leaders and Sweden, Finland, and Norway displaying more variety. This study provides a novel municipal-level perspective on population ageing in the Nordic countries, revealing substantive differences within and between countries in how record-oldest municipalities evolve.