For the historical era, see Middle Ages.

Middle age consists of the ages around, or older than, the middle of the average lifespan of human beings. In developed societies, people are generally considered to be middle aged between the ages of about 35-60.

In many societies this is often seen to be the period of life in which one is expected to have settled down, be raising a family, and have a stable career. It is also a period often associated with the potential onset of mid-life crises. Many women begin going through the change of life i.e menopause during middle age.

There is often claimed to be considerable prejudice against older people in employment and in the media. Given a choice between an old person (over 50, say) and a young person, often with less ability, the young person will disproportionately often be chosen by an employer. The media focus much less on older people because younger people are influenced more easily, and will most likely remain influenced for the rest of their lives, for instance choosing brands they are familiar with.

Some people are challenging the concept that middle age is something to dread. They assert that with the right attitude and careful planning, middle age can be truly a person's best years. Those age-positive groups range from advocacy groups such as the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) to purely social clubs like the Red Hat Society.

See also

• Youth
• Old age
• Quadragenarian
• Quinquagenarian