Getting older but working longer

Luxembourg may have an ageing population but, thanks to a regular influx of workers from abroad, it has among the lowest proportion of over 55s in Europe.

Just under one in every four people (24.8%) in Luxembourg was aged 55 years old and above in 2010, making Luxembourg's the third youngest population after Ireland (21.4%) and Cyprus (24.4%).

This apparent youthfulness is largely down to Luxembourg's small proportion of 55 to 64-year-olds, who accounted for just 10.8% of the population.

The figures were released by data gathering body Eurostat as part of the European year of active ageing and intergenerational solidarity to be celebrated in 2012.

They show that Luxembourg's situation has changed little during the last 20 years. Like today, in 1990, the over 55 group also represented 24.8% of the population.

Active ageing describes the possibility for older people to continue working and sharing their experience, while leading an active role in society and living healthy and fulfilling lives.

According to Statec's results, it is more common to find middle-aged residents in the Luxembourg workforce today than it was ten years ago. From 2000 to 2010, the proportion of 55 to 59-year-olds in work grew from 38.9% to 55.7% and of 60 to 64-year-olds from 14.5% to 20.1%.

Figures for over 65-year-olds in the workforce were unavailable because of the scarcity of the cross section.

Germany had the highest proportion of over 65s in 2010, representing 20.7% of the population. Portugal had the highest proportion of senior citizens still in work with 16.5% of this age group continuing to work.