Demographic Structure of the Populations of the World’s Smallest Economies

Chapter 13 is devoted to an in-depth examination of the demographic structure and its significant impact on the growth and development of the world’s smallest economies. While analysing age and gender structure, particular focus is placed on the age structure, as it impacts the size and quality of the labor pool, as well as the demand for educational and social services. Consequently, a comprehensive analysis of the pre-working, working, and post-working age populations in each of the 93 countries was conducted. Furthermore, the life expectancy rate, which is correlated with the attainment of retirement age and, therefore, the pension benefits paid by national budgets, was evaluated. The analysis also included the examination of the fertility rate and infant mortality, which are intricately linked to the level of economic development in the world’s smallest economies.