specifically the cost for a benefit of a day for all older people aged years or over ranges between per cent and per cent of gdp the cost being higher for poorer countries where represents a larger proportion of average income the risk of poverty among older persons has fallen while poverty rates among young adults and families with children have risen however because the initial oldage poverty rates were very high persons aged years or over remain the group most likely to be poor people aged to years in contrast are now no more likely to be poor than the population as a whole