If the percentage of elderly people is rising in a country, which public-budget item is most likely to face greater pressure?

Correct answer: Health care and pensions

When the elderly share rises, public services must respond to the needs associated with later life. Older people may require regular treatment, medicines, management of chronic illnesses, rehabilitation, long-term care, and income support after retirement. Governments may therefore face higher expenditure on hospitals, community health services, care facilities, pensions, and social-security programmes. The exact budget effect depends on policy and population conditions, but health care and pensions are the most directly connected items among the choices.

Option A is correct because it includes both major areas of pressure. Primary education, playgrounds, and child nutrition are important services, but their demand is more closely linked to the size of the child population. An ageing population may still need these services, yet a rising elderly proportion does not make them the most likely source of increased pressure. The demographic change shifts a greater share of public planning toward medical care, income security, and support for older citizens.