449 million. That is the peak number of humans that will ever live in the 27 countries of the EU, as projected by the European Commission. And it will occur in just four years from now. From then on, the population will decline despite longer life expectancy and positive net migration. Few among the 27 nations will age more rapidly than Ireland, according to the same source – by 2070, our median age will have increased by eight years. These demographic shifts will cause a sharp rise in the Irish old-age dependency ratio. There are around four persons of working…

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