World populations are ageing, and the wealthiest cohorts are spending to fine-tune their health and quality of life. How is the longevity economy developing?

According to the UN, the Earth is now home to more than eight billion inhabitants, with the global population expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050. The number of adults aged 65 and over is also likely to increase, encompassing more than 25 per cent of the population in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. The world’s population is getting older because of a decline in fertility and infant mortality, and an improvement in life expectancy owing to advances in medical care, hygiene and diet.

The global population aged over 65 is projected to double over the next 30 years

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs | World Population Prospects

A wellness economy

This demographic shift presents opportunities. The megatrend of an ageing population has led to the development of products and services that cater to older adults’ health and wellness. The chief executive of Swiss clinic Clinique La Prairie, Simone Gibertoni, says: “The global wellness economy has ballooned to more than $6tn in value and, within that, the longevity-focused market is forecast to reach around $610bn by 2026. This ‘longevity economy’ – affluent, health-conscious individuals seeking to extend their healthy years – is driving growth across continents.”

Source: Global Wellness Institute (GWI)

This development means that citizens consider health span (how long they remain healthy, active and free from serious illness), as their lifespan (the total years of life a person lives) increases. “Health is sometimes called the new wealth, and we see that mindset fuelling demand for longevity programmes, personalised medicine and age-defying therapies,” says Gibertoni.

Yet, as hard as individuals work to improve their longevity by leading a wholesome lifestyle, their physical and social environments can affect health, too – directly or through barriers or incentives that shape access and decisions about health behaviour. While wealth may not equal health, it may enable people to live better for longer, and health and longevity are increasingly crucial to high-net-worth individuals, as a 2025 survey reveals.

"Respondents to our Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report 2025, in almost all regions, say ‘I am concerned with my health and well-being’ and ‘I take steps to improve my health and my family’s health’,” says Dr Damien Ng, Next Generation Research Analyst at the Swiss wealth management group Julius Baer. “This is particularly the case for the majority of the ultra-high-net-worth individuals in the Asia-Pacific region, where personal and family well-being is not only rated a top priority, but the respondents also reported that they are more likely to be as active and fit as possible,” adds Ng.

Asia’s ageing markets

While the longevity industry is experiencing rapid growth worldwide, the fastest new uptake is in previously underserved regions, Asia and the Middle East, which are now eager for world-class wellness infrastructure. Asia, with its ageing population and new middle and upper classes, is seeing high demand for preventive health and longevity services.

Source: Julius Baer, Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report 2025 | Global Wellness Institute (GWI) 2023

The interest in longevity in Asia means that Clinique La Prairie is expanding in the region. It has unveiled its first international health resort in Anji, China (soon to be followed in the Middle East by Amaala, Saudi Arabia), with another underway in Phuket. It is rolling out Longevity Hubs offering advanced diagnostics and therapies in cities such as Bangkok and Taipei. The company’s model blends advanced medical science with luxury wellness hospitality, positioning it to serve the top end of the market where demand is strongest. “Our programmes leverage advanced innovations such as DNA testing, epigenetics and metabolomics to customise treatments, alongside proven lifestyle practices,” says Gibertoni.

Gibertoni explains that clients receive in-depth medical assessments – including comprehensive blood panels and imaging, as well as genetic and epigenetic testing – to get a detailed picture of their current health and ageing markers. Medically, a tailored programme might provide regenerative therapies or precision medications/supplements to target cellular ageing. In nutrition, the clinic designs meal plans and nutraceutical supplements to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Exercise and sleep are also carefully measured and tweaked.

Health is wealth

The concept of living well means different things to different people. Some may look to personalised cosmetics to enhance their skin; others may seek to extend their reproductive health. The desire to live longer and better intersects with various business segments, including nutrition and healthcare, elder care, beauty and leisure, and financial planning.

“Longevity is an inclusive term,” says Ng, “On the one hand, we have healthcare and medtech. People who already suffer from diseases need medical doctors, hospitals, treatments and new drugs, which are developed based on pharmaceutical companies’ R&D. On the medtech side, consider eye health: by the age of 40, many people experience presbyopia – the gradual loss of their eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects. Medtech solutions such as lens implants or biotech innovations targeting genes could dramatically improve quality of life.”

Ultimately, longevity is not just about expensive treatments, as Ng points out. “Hiking, jogging, and other simple activities are free yet powerful,” he says. “Government policy, community support, grassroots initiatives and personal discipline all play critical roles.”

"Beyond money, longevity is about well-being, fulfilment and purpose in life"Dr Damien Ng, Next Generation Research Analyst, Julius Baer

He concedes that wealth and health are deeply connected. “The majority of HNWIs would adjust their wealth strategy to cover an increase in lifespan, with measures ranging from reviewing their existing wealth structure and rebalancing their portfolios to re-evaluating retirement goals,” adds Ng. “But beyond money, longevity is about well-being, fulfilment and purpose in life. In other words, we should see a fundamental shift from material goods to experiences, and from quantity to quality.”

The current trends in investment in artificial intelligence for drug discovery, diagnostics, preventive medicine, and gene therapies offer a tantalising possibility of an ageless future. While no one lives forever, the industry to prolong life is booming like never before.

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