In 2007 the population in the age bracket between 0 and 4 years old and that between 5 and 9 years old was high, showing a high birth rate. The working-age population, specifically the bracket from 30 to 44 years old, was the most numerous. the number of people over 65 years old was fairly modest. Higher survival of women to more advanced ages was observed.
In 2012, and increase in the population from 0 to 9 years old was observed, indicating a slight increase in the birth rate compared to previous years. Among the working-age population, the group from 40 to 49 years old predominated, showing overall ageing. The population over 65 years old had grown, largely due to the increase in the number of women over 70 years old.
In 2017, the group from 0 to 4 years old fell again, showing a falling trend in birth rates. The generation from 40 to 54 years old remained the most numerous. The ageing trend continued to be consolidated, with the number of individuals over 75 years old growing, showing a gradual increase in the proportion of people of advanced age, with more women surviving.
In 2022 the age bracket from 0 to 4 years old decreased even further. The population of working age began to fall, in particular that from 30 to 44 years old. The groups over 65 years old continued to grow and the number of women over 85 years old was high, pointing to an ageing process among the population of the Basque Country.
Therefore, the age pyramids in the Basque Country clearly show the birth rate falling and the population ageing. From 2007 to 2022 the number of children fell and the working-age population peaked in 2012, before declining. The ageing process is highly significant.
In all areas of the Basque Country, the average age has risen, showing notable ageing. Zuberoa has the highest average age, at 47.5 years old in 2022, and that in Lapurdi has risen significantly: while in 2007 it was by far the youngest region, by 2022 it was the second-oldest, after Zuberoa (from 37.4 to 46.4). Navarra and Alava have the lowest average age, at 43.4 and 45.0 years old respectively.
Compared to other countries in Europe, in terms of average age Spain, Germany and Italy, with a significant increase in age, cover the whole range, and the Basque Country has a similar average to them. Azerbaijan has the lowest average age in Europe, 34.3 years old in 2022, though it is also ageing.
While the youngest group, from 0 to 14 years old, has grown following the increase observed in the first decade of the century, there has been an overall decrease in the Basque Country. In 2022, Bizkaia had the lowest proportion of individuals from 0 to 14 years old, at 12.5%, while Basse Navarre had the highest, at 16.4%.
In the EU27 the proportion of children has fallen over twenty years. However, at 13.6%, the Basque Country is currently below the European average.
There has been a significant increase in the population 65 years old and above. the percentage of people of advanced age has risen in all regions, reaching 22.8% in 2022 in the Basque Country as a whole. Zuberoa is the region with the highest proportion (29.2%).
This trend, of the youngest groups remaining steady or decreasing and the oldest groups increasing, is the same across the EU27. Thus, in most European regions, the proportion from 0 to 14 years old has risen slightly or fallen by up to 3 points, depending on the region. Those over 65 years old, however, have risen between one and five points.