New

Explore professionally built ETF model portfolios. Discover now →

Moving Markets

Investing in the Aging Demographics Megatrend

As the global population ages, there is an emerging ecosystem of businesses and services capable of elevating the quality of life for the oldest members of our society; they are also great investment opportunities.

Kyle Anthony Headshot
By Kyle Anthony · February 28, 2023
Share
Investing in the Aging Demographics Megatrend

Keep up with what matters in ETFs

Get timely ETF insights, market trends, and top ideas straight to your inbox.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to ETF Central's Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

A megatrend is considered a powerful, transformative force that could shape the global economy, business, and society. As identified by the OECD, and other international organizations, Demographic and Social Change - of which, an increasing aging population falls under - is a trend poised to reshape the global landscape in the coming years. 

Population aging is projected to become one of the biggest societal shifts within our global economy, as 1 in 6 people worldwide will be over the age of 65 by 2050. In the U.S., approximately 54 million individuals are currently over the age of 65, according to the most recent census. By 2030 that number is slated to rise to 74 million people. 

But the greying of our global population isn’t a bad thing, as there is an entire ecosystem of businesses and services arising to support this demographic shift. In this article, we will highlight some investment solutions that are focused on this growing market. 

ETF Central Weekly Newsletter

Like what you're reading?

Stay in the loop — get the latest ETF insights: trends, analysis, and expert picks.

After signing up, you will receive occasional emails from ETF Central and its partners. See our Terms of use.

Investing in the whole ecosystem

The following thematic solutions allow investors to comprehensively invest in diversified solutions focused on the aging economy and companies that support said demographic.  

  • Global X Aging Population ETF (AGNGis a thematic solution focused on companies that are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to increasing the lifespans of the senior population of the world. The fund is heavily invested in industries focused on Medical Specialties, Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology. Popular holdings within the fund include companies such as Eli Lily & Co, Amgen Inc. and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. 
  • Hartford Longevity Economy ETF (HLGEis invested in companies that comprise industries that reflect certain themes that are expected to benefit from the growth of the aging population and the substantial buying power it represents. The fund’s main allocations are towards information technology and healthcare sectors. Familiar holdings within the fund include Pfizer Inc, Gilead Sciences, and Intel Corp. 

Investing in parts of the ecosystem

As the aging population increases, the ecosystem that supports this demographic should also rise in tandem. For investors that desire pure-play exposure to distinct industries that will support and cater to an aging population, the following solutions should be considered.

  • Global X Health & Wellness ETF (BFITis a thematic solution focused on companies that develop products and services aimed at promoting physical wellness through an active and healthy lifestyle, including but not limited to fitness equipment and technology, athletic apparel, nutritional supplements, and organic/natural food offerings. Though the fund is heavily tilted toward the apparel industry, there is material exposure to Food, Pharmaceuticals, and Non-Alcoholic Beverage industries also. 
  • iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF (IHIis purely focused on investing in U.S. companies that are within the medical device industry. Medical equipment manufacturers, such as Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, Abbott Laboratories, and Boston Scientific Corp are holdings within this solution. 
  • iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (IHFprovides investors with equity exposure to companies within the U.S. healthcare providers sector, particularly health insurance, diagnostics, and specialized treatments. Health care providers, such as United Health Group Inc, CVS Health Corp, and Human Inc, are holdings within this solution. 

Investing in the innovation of the ecosystem

For future-focused investors, who may want exposure to innovation that is occurring within the broader healthcare space, the ROBO Global Healthcare Technology and Innovation ETF (HTECis a passively managed solution that retains exposure to companies in the following sub-sectors: diagnostic; lab process automation; regenerative medicine; precision medicine; data and analytics; telehealth; robotics; medical instruments; and genomics. All these sectors speak to health science advancements occurring within modern medicine, aimed at elevating the quality of care accessible to the oldest members of our society. 

As the demographics of society change, particularly regarding age and supporting the eldest among us – there are a variety of businesses and services that will allow individuals to maintain a high quality of life, while also being great investment opportunities. 

Please note this article is for information purposes only and does not in any way constitute investment advice. It is essential that you seek advice from a registered financial professional prior to making any investment decision.

Advertisement
ETF U
Become a better investor with NYSE: The Home of ETFs
Visit the ETF U homepage
ETF Guides
Advertisement

Recent educational content

PRIV ETF

What’sTheFund

What's the Fund | State Street SPDR IG Public & Private Credit ETF (Ticker: PRIV)

Matthew Bartolini, Global Head of Research Strategists, at State Street Investment Management, joins Ethan Hertzfeld on the New York Stock Exchange Floor to discuss PRIV, the State Street SPDR IG Public & Private Credit ETF.

NYSE logo
By NYSE · April 28, 2026
Tidal ETF Industry KPIs

ETF Trends

ETF Industry KPIs April 27, 2026

The ETF Industry saw 23 New Launches, 1 Ticker Change and 4 closures last week.

Tidal
By Tidal · April 28, 2026
Investors Can Fight Healthcare Inflation with Newly Launched ETFs

Asset TV

The ETF Show - Investors Can Fight Healthcare Inflation with Newly Launched ETFs

Adam Schenck, Principal and Managing Director of Fund Services at Milliman joined The ETF Show to discuss Milliman's first ETFs designed to hedge against rising healthcare inflation.

Asset TV
By Asset TV · April 22, 2026
Tidal ETF Industry KPIs

ETF Trends

ETF Industry KPIs April 20, 2026

The ETF Industry saw 14 New Launches, 1 Ticker Change and 16 closures last week.

Tidal
By Tidal · April 22, 2026

Browse all educational columns

Advertisement
ETF INVESTOR TOOLS

Build and Analyze Your ETF Portfolio Like a Pro

Create your own ETF portfolio in minutes and instantly see allocations, exposures, performance, and risk. Visualize diversification across asset classes, regions, and sectors. Stress-test ideas, compare benchmarks, and refine your strategy with professional-grade analytics.

Portfolio Builder