Description: Originally featured as a breakout session at the 2015 CRC, this presentation discusses, from a North-American and non-actuarial perspective, how population growth and size have a major impact on socio-demographic needs in term of health care, social and old age security, education, transport and infrastructure. Their underlying components are two opposing forces, namely mortality and longevity. Understanding their past and possible future key drivers is not only important to the macro-economic planning of government agencies, but also to pension funds, insurance companies, and other stakeholders of the financial and insurance industries.