Planning for Ageing Societies

Across the world, populations are aging rapidly as fertility and mortality rates decline while life expectancy increases. By 2050, 16 percent of the global population will be age 65 or older, compared to 10 percent of the population in 2022. This unprecedented demographic transformation is poised to place further fiscal pressure on social protection and health systems, as well as change labor dynamics. Proactive and forward-thinking policies are necessary to ensure that every person is able to age equitably, with security and dignity, and to uplift older adults to live healthy and productive lives.

Countries will need to strategically integrate an understanding of, and responsiveness to, aging across a range of policy areas at every level of government. Many countries have already taken steps to integrate aging into their strategic planning. These plans offer insights and lessons learned for policymakers, practitioners, and advocates who are working to advance age-friendly frameworks in other countries around the world and to better understand the challenges and opportunities of accelerated population aging.