Older males linked to exports
Comparing Population ages 65 and above, male, per capita with Exports of goods and services (current US$), per capita across 184 countries, 2025–2025.
- Rank correlation
- +0.74
- Holding size constant
- +0.66
- Countries compared
- 184
- Period
- 2025–2025
What might link these
The relationship between older males and exports might be driven by countries with aging populations having more established economies, which in turn facilitate international trade. A careful reader should consider education level as a likely confounder, as it could influence both economic productivity and trade. The correlation does not necessarily imply a direct link between the two indicators.
Why this is not proof of anything
This is a correlation across countries, not an experiment. It cannot show that either indicator causes the other, and both may simply follow a third thing. This correlation could mislead by implying a causal relationship between demographics and trade, when in fact it may be driven by underlying economic factors.
The second figure above repeats the measurement with national population and income held constant. It is the more conservative number: a relationship that largely disappears there was mostly telling you that larger, richer countries have more of most things.
How this was measured
Both indicators were ranked across every country reporting each, and the two rankings compared — ranks rather than raw values, because a handful of very large countries can otherwise manufacture a relationship on their own. The calculation is arithmetic over figures already published on this site; the commentary above is drafted from the two indicator names and the resulting coefficients.