Similarity of regions in terms of the structure of the elderly population – proposition of a measure

Abstract

Purpose – The article presents a proposal for a measure of the similarity of regions in terms of the structure of the elderly population. Research method – Using the proposed measure, the similarity of population structures aged 60 and above was assessed for the regions of Poland in 2017, where the age groups: 60-74, 75-84 and 85 plus were defined as components of the structure. Results – The research results demonstrate that Poland’s voivodeships differ with respect to the structure of people aged 60 and above. The spatial polarization of the country with respect to the components of the structure of an elderly population can be observed. Originality /value – Identification of the regional differentiation of the situation in terms of the size and age structure of the elderly population can be helpful in planning activities within the silver economy policy adapted to the situation in each region.