Ageing in the 21st Century: Chapter 1: Setting the scene

In 1950, there were 205 million persons aged 60 or over in the world.

By 2012, the number of older persons had increased to almost 810 million.

It is projected to more than double by 2050, reaching 2 billion.

Chapter 1 of Ageing in the 21st Century provides an overview of population ageing and its economic and social implications.


It describes the aims of the Madrid Plan and discusses the lack of protection afforded to older persons, due to the absence of comprehensive human rights instruments.

   Ageing in the 21st Century. Setting the scene. Older man in Haiti. (c) Frédéric Dupoux/HelpAge International.

 

Chapter 1: Contents

  • Global population ageing
  • Older women
  • The challenges of population ageing
  • The response: The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing
  • Human rights matter for older persons

Download Chapter 1: Setting the scene. (788kb)

Comment on this page

Comments are moderated before publication. Not all comments will be published.

Comments submitted for this page

  • ruqia (3rd February 2013)

    very thought provoking.there are lot of other issues but it is also equally important.it is right time to adress it .we can take a reason able work due to their life long experiences.

  • Mohamed Hassan (28th November 2012)

    wonderful initiative in helping the ageing population. keep up

Share

Dum Ream, 72, Cambodia

Dum Ream and her grandchildren. (c) Mayur Paul/HelpAge International.

Dum Ream, 72, from Cambodia sells rice noodles to support the three grandchildren she now looks after.

“It is very difficult for someone older like me to look after young kids, but they are my grandchildren. I had to take this challenge on,” she says.

Read Dum Ream's story.

e-Newsletter

Stay updated! Sign up below...

Privacy policy

Tags for this page