Countries with more older men have less service exports
Comparing Commercial service exports (current US$) with Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP across 186 countries, 2018–2025.
- Rank correlation
- -0.59
- Holding size constant
- -0.76
- Countries compared
- 186
- Period
- 2018–2025
What might link these
The relationship between commercial service exports and the proportion of males aged 50-54 per unit of GDP might be linked to the demographic and economic structures of countries, potentially influencing the workforce and economic activities. A careful reader should consider the role of education and workforce participation rates as a possible confounder. The correlation could also be driven by differences in industry composition across countries.
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 direct relationship between aging demographics and trade balances, when in fact many other economic and social factors are at play.
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.