With the number of people aged 65 and over projected to more than double by the middle of the century, the rights and well-being of older persons must be prioritized in efforts to achieve a sustainable future, the UN said in a new report launched on Thursday.听
The听World Social Report 2023听calls for concrete measures to support the greying global population, amidst escalating pension and healthcare costs.听
Population ageing is a defining global trend of our time, according to the study, published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).听
Countries can reap the benefits by giving everyone the chance to grow older in good health by promoting equal opportunities from birth.听
鈥淭ogether, we can address today鈥檚 inequalities for the benefit of tomorrow鈥檚 generations, managing the challenges and听capitalizing on the opportunities that population ageing brings,鈥� said Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.听
Longer lifespans globally听
In 2021, 761 million people worldwide were aged 65 and older, which will rise to 1.6 billion by 2050. The number of people aged 80 years or older is听growing even faster.听
People are living longer thanks to improvements in health and medical therapies, greater access to education and reductions in fertility.听
Globally, a child born in 2021 can expect to live, on average, to age 71, with women living longer than men. 听This is nearly 25 years more than a baby born in 1950.听
Northern Africa, Western Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, are on track to experience the fastest growth in the number of older people over the next 30 years. Today, Europe and Northern America combined, have the highest share of this population. 听
Inequality in ageing听
Increased global life expectancy reflects better health overall.听
However, the report points to inequalities in our ageing world, because听not everyone has benefited equally听from the improvements in health and education that are driving this transformation.听
While many older people are in excellent health or 鈥渆conomically active鈥�, others live with ailments or in poverty. 听
In more developed regions, pensions and other public transfer systems, provide over two thirds of the consumption by older persons. Their counterparts in less developed regions tend to work longer and rely more on accumulated assets or family assistance.听
Furthermore, an ageing global population also means听a rise in the need for long-term care, a weakness exposed during the听COVID-19听pandemic. 听Unfortunately, public spending in most countries has not been sufficient to cover the growing demand.听
A lifetime of disadvantage 听
Life expectancy is strongly influenced by factors such as income, education, gender, ethnicity and place of residence.听
鈥淪ome combinations of these factors have too often led to systemic disadvantage that begins early in life,鈥� the authors noted.听
They warned that without policies to prevent them, these systemic disadvantages reinforce one another throughout peoples鈥� lives, leading to gaping disparities in old age.听
As a result, progress towards achieving the 17听Sustainable Development Goals听(SDGs) could be at risk, expressly SDG 10 on Reducing Inequalities.听
Rethink policies, expand opportunities听
The report recommends that countries听rethink long-held policies and practices听associated with livelihoods and work.听
Many governments are already introducing opportunities for life-long learning, as well as strengthening and taking full advantage of intergenerational workforces. 听听
They are also introducing flexible retirement ages to accommodate a broad range of personal situations and preferences.听
Pension dilemma听
Authorities must also rethink social protection systems, including pension provision.听
鈥淥ne major challenge is maintaining the fiscal sustainability of public pension systems while ensuring income security for all older persons, including workers in informal employment,鈥� the authors said.听
Other crucial elements involve expanding decent work opportunities for women and other groups traditionally excluded from the formal job market.听
The aim is to secure their well-being when older, and to expand the productive capacity of the economy.听
The informal care sector鈥檚 considerable contribution to the formal economy also should be properly recognized ad factored in, the analysis suggests.听
