Longer lives call for environments ready for the future

The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030, one in six people worldwide will be aged 60 or over. Furthermore, by the mid-2030s there will be more people aged 80 or over than children under one, and by the late 2070s the global population aged over 65 will outnumber those under 18. This profound demographic shift invites us to rethink how we design our cities, buildings and services.¹²

The International Day of Older Persons, observed every 1 October, recognises the contribution of older people and raises awareness of the challenges and opportunities associated with ageing. In this context, it is essential to promote independence, social participation and accessible environments for everyone.³

Spain, a country living longer

Spain is one of the countries where this change is most evident. According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), the resident population reached 49,128,297 in 2025, and 20.7% were over 64. Demographic projections also suggest that this group will account for a growing share of the population in the coming decades.⁴⁵

The United Kingdom is also experiencing a marked ageing of its population. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK population reached approximately 68.3 million in 2024, and 19.4% of residents were aged 65 or over. Demographic projections indicate that older people will account for an increasingly large share of the population in the coming decades, with those aged 65 and over expected to represent around 27% of the population by 2072

The trend extends across Europe. According to Eurostat, 21.6% of the European Union’s population was aged 65 or over in 2024.⁶

In this context, accessibility becomes increasingly important. Being able to enter and leave home easily, move around without barriers and safely access different parts of a building directly affects people’s independence, quality of life and ability to remain in familiar surroundings.⁷

Innovating for a society living longer

Vertical mobility plays a fundamental role in this transition. Modernising a lift, removing architectural barriers or introducing safer and more efficient solutions allows thousands of people to go about their daily lives with greater independence.

With this vision, Orona has spent decades developing mobility solutions designed to meet the needs of an evolving society. The company develops, installs, maintains and modernises lifts and other mobility systems that improve accessibility in residential buildings, hospitals, care facilities, public infrastructure and workplaces.⁸

Beyond the technology, these solutions help create more inclusive environments, enabling people to remain in their homes for longer, access local services and move around safely in everyday life.

Longevity is one of the greatest achievements of our time. Preparing buildings, infrastructure and cities for this new reality is a shared responsibility that will help build more inclusive and resilient communities. Innovation and accessibility are essential to ensuring that living longer also means living better.

Bringing people together, bridging distances.