According to the European Commission, the total population of the EU-27 is projected to increase from 447.7 million at the start of 2020 to peak at 449.3 million by 2026, before falling through the entire century driven by historically low fertility rates and increasing life expectancy.

In the same timeframe, the elderly population aged 65 years or more will increase significantly, rising from 92 million in 2020 to reach 130 million by 2100. By 2050, this population group will account for 30% of the total population from 20% currently. The very old population age over 80 years or over, which currently represents 6% of the total European population will account for 11% in 2050 and 15% in 2100.

Population ageing is the 21st century's dominant demographic phenomenon, predicted to grow rapidly throughout the century. Whilst population ageing is coming all over the world, timing is uneven, striking the European continent first and most specifically Italy, Germany and Portugal.

With the European old-age dependency ratio, expected to reach 50% in 2025, meaning that every two working-age people will have to support for one elderly person (65+), ageing countries are bound to experience great pressure on their health-care care budgets. For the EU, public expenditure on LTC is projected to increase from 1.6% to 2.7% of GDP between 2016 and 2070.

This generational turnover triggers opportunities for private initiatives to supply sufficient qualitative and suited care homes for the growing elderly population. In the 10 countries covered in this report, there are approximately 3.3 million long-term residential care facilities (public and private). This means on average there are 170 beds for 1,000 people aged 80 years or above, a very low level of provision. Assuming a constant provision rate over the next decade, approximately 775,000 new beds will be needed in these 10 countries to face the growing number of elderly people.

_{Read the articles within Spotlight: European Care Homes below.}