In many cultures, older persons play critical societal roles, serving as community leaders and caregivers and sharing their wisdom and ancestral knowledge with younger generations. Persons aged 50 and over – who account for a quarter of the global population – also substantially drive global economic growth.
Each year, we commemorate “International Day of Older Persons” on 1 October to raise public awareness about the opportunities and challenges presented to the ageing populations and to mobilize families, community groups and stakeholders to address the difficulties faced by older people
History
International Day of Older Persons is a special day for senior citizens all over the world. On December 14, 1990, the UN General Assembly made October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons. The International Day of Older Persons was observed for the first time on October 1, 1991.
Ageing explained
At the biological level, ageing results from the impact of the accumulation of a wide variety of molecular and cellular damage over time. This leads to a gradual decrease in physical and mental capacity, a growing risk of disease and ultimately death. These changes are neither linear nor consistent, and they are only loosely associated with a person’s age in years. Beyond biological changes, ageing is often associated with other life transitions such as retirement, relocation to more appropriate housing and the death of friends and partners.The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide. Older people need respect, and it's important to treat them with dignity and consideration.
Facts and Figures
The number of people aged 65 years or older worldwide is projected to more than double, rising from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion in 2050. The number of people aged 80 years or older is growing even faster.
Today, life expectancy at birth exceeds 75 years in half of the world's countries or areas, 25 years longer than those born in 1950. Individuals reaching the age of 65 are now expected to live an additional 16.8 years on average.
In 2018, a historic milestone was reached when the number of older persons outnumbered children under five for the first time globally.
By 2030, the global population of older persons is projected to exceed the number of youth and double the number of children under five.
Women, who comprise most care recipients and caregivers, contribute roughly 70% of global informal care hours. This is especially true in low- and middle-income countries with limited care services, making women more vulnerable to poverty in old age.
As populations age, the demand for healthcare and social support has surged, especially for those with conditions like dementia, a major cause of dependency and disability in older adults. Specialized care is now essential to meet these growing needs.
Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22%.
Common health conditions associated with ageing
Common conditions in older age include hearing loss, cataracts and refractive errors, back and neck pain and osteoarthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, depression and dementia. As people age, they are more likely to experience several conditions at the same time. Older age is also characterized by the emergence of several complex health states commonly called geriatric syndromes. They are often the consequence of multiple underlying factors and include frailty, urinary incontinence, falls, delirium and pressure ulcers.
India's elderly population (India Ageing Report 2023)
The percentage of the elderly in India has been increasing swiftly in recent years, and the trend is likely to continue in the coming decades. The share of population over the age of 60 years is projected to increase from 10.5 percent in 2022 to 20.8 percent in 2050 By the end of the century, the elderly will constitute over 36 percent of the total population of the country. Sharp growth in the elderly population is observed from 2010 onwards along with a decline in the age group of below 15 years, indicating rapidity of ageing in India.
Four years before 2050, the population size of the elderly in India will be higher than the population size of children aged 0–14 years. By that time, the population share of 15–59 years will also see a dip. Undoubtedly, the relatively young India today will turn into a rapidly ageing society in the coming decades.
Most of the states in the southern region and northern states such as Himachal Pradesh and Punjab reported a higher share of the elderly population than the national average in 2021, a gap that is expected to widen by 2036. While states reporting higher fertility rates and lagging in demographic transition, such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, expect to see an increase in the share of the elderly population between 2021 and 2036, the level will remain lower than the Indian average. (Source: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
Over 40% poorest in India
The level of poverty among the elderly may affect their quality of life and healthcare utilization. Overall, more than two-fifth of the elderly in India are in the poorest wealth quintile—ranging from 4.2 per cent in Jammu and Kashmir and 5 per cent in Punjab to 40.2 per cent in Lakshadweep and 47 per cent in Chhattisgarh. Further analysis of work, pension and income indicates that 18.7 per cent elderly did not have any income. This proportion was above the national level among 17 states, which ranged from 19.3 per cent in Uttarakhand to 42.4 per cent in Lakshadweep.