Global changes in bladder cancer mortality in the elderly

•Global age-standardised mortality between 1986 and 2014 for bladder cancer has decreased by 11% in men ≥ 75 compared to 39% in men < 75.•Global age-standardised mortality between 1986 and 2014 for bladder cancer has decreased by 16% in women ≥ 75 compared to 26% in women < 75.•There is a positive linear relationship between a country’s Human Development Index and age-standardised mortality rate in all age groups with the correlation weakest in those aged ≥ 75.