A new study launched by HelpAge International exposes the depth of the global neglect of older people. For years, the world has spoken about “leaving no one behind”. Yet when the numbers are laid bare, the gap between words and action is staggering.
The findings are stark: in humanitarian funding databases, only 0.1% of project titles mention older people, and just 6.5% of project descriptions refer to them. This shows that older people are rarely the direct focus of projects and are often overlooked within broader initiatives.
These figures represent millions of lives left at risk, uncounted, and unseen. They reveal an international system that has systematically failed to recognise older people’s needs, contributions, and rights. And unless we act now, the problem will only grow.