Triggered by somebody I know turning 70 today.
- You are one of around 500 million people today who are over 70.
- You were one of just 2.5 billion when you were born but are one of 7.5 billion today (therefore 3 times less important?).
- However, you are also one of the Elders of the World and among the 7% of the world population over 70 (15% in Sweden, 14% in the US, 8% in China and 4% in India).
- Globally the over 70s (7%) own about 40% of the world’s household wealth. (For reference, Bill Gates is not yet 70).
- You are 4 times more likely to own your own home than the average adult.
- It is more likely that your medical costs exceed what you spend on your car.
- You are among the safest drivers on the roads but renting a car gets more difficult.
- At an airport you are 10 times less likely to be profiled as dangerous.
- You know what a slide rule was used for, can remember receiving a telegram and can recognise a telex machine.
- The American Civil war was to you as World War 1 is to someone born today.
- Somebody who was 70 when you were born had lived through 2 World Wars.
- 70 years before you were born there were no aircraft, no radios, no refrigerators, no X-ray machines, no steam turbines, no automobiles, no diesel engines and no zippers. But the telephone had been invented (just).
Tags: over 70
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