Ageing: Global population (2025)

Why is the population ageing?

Longer lives are one of our most remarkable collective achievements. Advances in social and economic development as well as in health have lowered mortality rates, particularly among older people, meaning most people can now expect to live into their sixties and beyond.

At the same time, factors such as urbanization, higher education and access to family planning have led to smaller family sizes and fewer births, resulting in fewer children in many countries. Consequently, individuals aged 60 and above are growing in number and outnumbering younger people, leading to population ageing.

This fundamental shift presents opportunities for more people to make the most of longer lives and new challenges if adaptations are not made to how societies are structured across all sectors.

What are the public health implications of global ageing?

Globally, life expectancy at birth reached 73.3years in 2024, an increase of 8.4years since 1995. The number of people aged 60 and older worldwide is projected to increase from 1.1 in 2023 to 1.4billion by 2030. This trend is particularly evident and rapid in developing regions.

This demographic shift has significant implications for public health. Maintaining good health is crucial for older people to remain independent and actively participate in family and community life. Engaging in lifelong health promotion and disease prevention strategies can significantly reduce the risk of developing noncommunicable and chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke and cancer, as well as functional impairments. Early detection and treatment of these conditions are essential to minimizing their impact.

Public health initiatives can leverage the capacities and abilities of older people. The growing population of older individuals plays a vital role by volunteering, sharing their experience and knowledge, assisting their families with caregiving responsibilities, and increasing their participation in the workforce. In this context, the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030) emphasizes four specific areas for action: 1) combatting ageism, 2) creating age-friendly environments, 3) integrating care in primary care, and 4) providing long-term care for those who need it.

Addressing ageism requires a fundamental shift in societal attitudes, feelings and behaviours towards ageing and older persons. Age-friendly environments empower older individuals to lead dignified lives by addressing social determinants of health and promoting supportive communities that enhance their well-being. Integrated care guarantees that health services effectively address the diverse needs of older people, fostering a comprehensive person-centred approach that encompasses physical, mental and social well-being. Long-term care is vital for individuals who require assistance from others for everyday life, as it ensures they receive the necessary support to sustain their quality of life with dignity.

By focusing on these key areas, public health initiatives can significantly enhance the lives of older people, empowering them to make meaningful contributions to society while enjoying healthier and more fulfilling lives.

What issues related to ageing are WHO working on?

Although people are, on average, living longer than ever before, globally there is little evidence that older people today are in better health than previous generations. Furthermore, good health in older age is not distributed equally, either between or within generations.

WHO works with Member States, UN agencies and diverse stakeholders from various sectors to close the gap between longer lives and healthier lives by fostering healthy ageing in every country. WHO does this work in line with the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030) – a global collaboration that brings together diverse sectors and stakeholders to improve the lives of older people, their families and the communities in which they live. WHO serves as the Secretariat of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.

The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing defines the following four action areas:

  1. combatting ageism – changing how we think, feel, and act towards age and ageing;
  2. age-friendly environments – ensuring that communities foster the abilities of older people;
  3. integrated care – delivering person-centred integrated care and primary health services responsive to older people; and
  4. long-term care – providing access to long-term care for older people who need it.

In addition to these action areas, WHO also works on cross-cutting issues related to ageing, such as the abuse of older people and social isolation and loneliness.

Ageing: Global population (2025)
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