Leaving no one behind in an ageing world

Dr Matiur Rahman :
Population ageing refers to changes in a population’s age composition, such as an increase in the proportion of older persons. Demographers use age/sex pyramids to illustrate the distribution of populations across all age groups.
Despite their demographic significance, older persons have been typically unrecognized by international development programmes, policy, and discourse. As a result, low-and-middle-income countries have fallen behind in developing capacities to address the needs of their ageing populations. These needs are wide-ranging, with alarmingly high poverty rates and a higher risk of vulnerability among older persons, most acutely among older women.
According to a report by UNDP, ageing is a critical yet overlooked development issue directly implicating 12.2 per cent of the global population, with currently more than 901 million people aged 60 and older, an increasing majority of whom live in low and middle-income countries.
The UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) issued the 2023 edition of its biennial flagship report that aims to assess the world’s social situation by identifying emerging trends of international concern and analyzing relationships among significant development issues with international and national dimensions. The World Social Report 2023 focuses on population ageing and the challenges and opportunities it brings as countries strive to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Titled ‘Leaving No One Behind in an Ageing World,’ the report recalls that in setting out a universal plan of action to achieve sustainable development, the 2030 Agenda aims to leave no one behind, particularly the most vulnerable people, including those older ages.
This issue brief raises awareness of the emerging challenges and opportunities related to ageing and proposes initial recommendations for addressing them in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Casting population ageing as “a defining global trend of our time” represents a significant success story driven by health improvements and fertility reductions. The report highlights some of the positive effects of ageing on achieving the SDGs, including changes in demand for environmental resources, with a positive impact on natural capital (SDG target 12.2), reducing global food waste and food losses along production and supply chains (SDG target 12.3); and improving prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse systems to reduce waste generation (SDG target 12.5).
Globally, the population aged 65 and over is growing faster than all other age groups. The United Nations mentioned that the world’s population of older people is increasing at the fastest rate ever. The number of people aged 65 and older had hit about 761 million as of 2021which is expected to more than double by 2050 to 1.6 billion.
Population size and age structure are jointly determined by three demographic processes: fertility, mortality, and migration.According to data from the World Population Prospects: 2019, by 2050, 1 in 6 people will be over 65 (16%), up from 1 in 11 (9%) in 2019.
The United Nations says the world’s population structure has changed dramatically in recent decades. Between 1950 and 2010, the average human life expectancy worldwide increased from 46 to 68 years. In 2019, there were 703 million people aged 65 and over worldwide. The most significant number of older people (261 million) was in the East and Southeast Asia region. Followed by Europe and North America (over 200 million).
Over the next three decades, the number of older people worldwide willsurpass 1.5 billion by 2050. The world will see a huge increase in the elderly population between 2019 and 2050. The most significant growth (312 million) is projected in East and Southeast Asia, increasing from 261 million in 2019 to 573 million in 2050.
The number of older people is expected to grow the fastest in North Africa and West Asia, from 29 million in 2019 to 96 million in 2050 (a 226 percent increase). The second most rapid growth is projected for sub-Saharan Africa, where the population aged 65 and over is expected to increase from 32 million in 2019 to 101 million in 2050 (218 percent).
The fastest growth in the elderly population is projected to occur in the least developed countries. The number of persons aged 65 and over is expected to increase from 37 million in 2019 to 120 million in 2050 (225%).
According to the Bangladesh Senior Benevolent Association, the country has over15 million senior citizens, 9 percent of the population. In 2025 it will become 20 million. In 2050 this number will stand at 45 million. Then the number of elderly will increase more than children in the country.
However, the DESA publication warns this demographic shift comes with challenges, even in countries with relatively youthful populations. While countries are at different stages of population ageing, the report underscores the importance of ensuring that “the productive capacity of the economy can support the consumption needs of a growing older population,” including by planning.
The report argues that promoting equal opportunities from birth can help give every person “an equal chance to grow older in good health and with economic security,” calling for access to quality education, health care, and decent work throughout the life course.
The report further stresses that older persons should be able to continue working for as long as they desire and are able but should not be compelled to do so. Advocating for flexible retirement policies with guaranteed universal minimum benefits, eliminating barriers to older people’s participation in the labour force, and supporting learning and skills development throughout life. Finally, the report recommends that governments balance the need for the fiscal sustainability of public pension systems to ensure income security for all older persons.
Experts say that our family ties are getting weaker day by day. The modern generation is drifting away from parents and other family members. We would expect governments like those in the developed countries to mandate various facilities for older people, including banking, insurance, public transport, hospital-medical and services.

(The writer is a researcher and development worker).