While the world’s population is expected to continue to grow until the 2080s, it is doing so at a decelerated rate: Over the past decades, fertility levels have fallen in all countries, even the poorest, and associated with this, overall population ageing has further progressed. The birth of fewer children and an increase in life expectancy has expanded the average age of the population. 

Today, population ageing is often viewed as threatening the financial viability of pensions and health-care systems, and can result, for example, in shortages of skills and workers in the labour market. Population ageing might challenge systems and institutions, but it does not naturally represent a danger to the further social and economic development of societies. With proactive attitudes and the right policies in place, countries can realize what demographers refer to as a “second demographic dividend” – one steered by the integration of older persons in the workforce and resulting in increased savings, productive investment and stronger human capital. 

Achieving the benefits of population ageing will require a paradigm shift. Fundamentally negative, reactive and fragmented actions must give way to positive, anticipatory and integrated responses and preparations. To prosper amid an ageing population, countries can respond with comprehensive policies, reforms of social-protection systems and labour markets, and complementary reforms of health and education policies. By anticipating and addressing challenges ahead of time, countries can harness the opportunities presented by an ageing population.

Remarkable gains in life expectancy over the past decades have not translated into similar progress in healthy life expectancy. Healthy ageing begins with newborn and child health, and is influenced by factors such as access to sexual and reproductive health or protection from gender-based violence and harmful practices throughout life. Increased investment in human capital – health and education – throughout the life course will help develop capacity for active participation in and contribution to society. These investments must be complemented by a social, economic and political environment that creates opportunities for people to do just that. Countries should fight any form of discrimination and exclusion, based on age, sex or other characteristics, and pursue economic policies that create decent work and business opportunities.

In the twentieth century, population growth was often called a “population bomb.” Today, population ageing is sometimes referred to as the “new population bomb.” However, demographic shifts are not sudden, and they do not have to be explosive or destructive.
 

Population ageing represents a global triumph for development that requires rethinking and adjustment of fundamental pillars of modern society, such as pension schemes and labour markets, health care, education, housing and infrastructure, among others.  

To support countries with concerns about population ageing and population decline, as well as low fertility and migration, UNFPA has established its Programme on Demographic Resilience. With the overarching objective to help countries build resilience to and take advantage of demographic change, the programme supports countries at every step of the demographic transition.

Under the Demographic Resilience umbrella, UNFPA supports the collection of population data, the analysis of population-development linkages and policy dialogues on population dynamics. UNFPA also offers technical support in the formulation of strategies, policies and programmes to address population ageing, population decline, low fertility and migration, among others. To this end, the promotion of healthy and active ageing – for example, through the support of healthy ageing centres, as well as the creation of inclusive societies for young and old, women and men, minorities and migrants – is of central importance.

Last updated 19 June 2024