Lakhasly

The International Plan of Action on Ageing,1 adopted at the first World Assembly on Ageing in Vienna, has guided the course of thinking and action on ageing over the past 20 years, as crucial policies and initiatives evolved.Issues of human rights for older persons were taken up in 1991 in the formulation of the United Nations Principles for Older Persons,2 which provided guidance in the areas of independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment and dignity.This demographic triumph and the fast growth of the population in the first half of the twenty-first century mean that the number of persons over 60 will increase from about 600 million in 2000 to almost 2 billion in 2050 and the proportion of persons defined as older is projected to increase globally from 10 per cent in 1998 to 15 per cent in 2025.In certain developed countries and countries with economies in transition, the number of older persons already exceeds the number of children and birth rates have fallen below replacement levels.In Asia and Latin America, the proportion of persons classified as older will increase from 8 to 15 per cent between 1998 and 2025, although in Africa the proportion is only expected to grow from 5 to 6 per cent during the period but then doubling by 2050.In sub-Saharan Africa, where the struggle with the HIV/AIDS pandemic and with economic and social hardship continues, the percentage will reach half that level.Every facet of humanity will evolve: social, economic, political, cultural, psychological and spiritual.2.3.

The International Plan of Action on Ageing,1 adopted at the first World
Assembly on Ageing in Vienna, has guided the course of thinking and action on
ageing over the past 20 years, as crucial policies and initiatives evolved. Issues of
human rights for older persons were taken up in 1991 in the formulation of the
United Nations Principles for Older Persons,2 which provided guidance in the areas
of independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment and dignity.
2. The twentieth century saw a revolution in longevity. Average life expectancy at
birth has increased by 20 years since 1950 to 66 years and is expected to extend a
further 10 years by 2050. This demographic triumph and the fast growth of the
population in the first half of the twenty-first century mean that the number of
persons over 60 will increase from about 600 million in 2000 to almost 2 billion in
2050 and the proportion of persons defined as older is projected to increase globally
from 10 per cent in 1998 to 15 per cent in 2025. The increase will be greatest and
most rapid in developing countries where the older population is expected to
quadruple during the next 50 years. In Asia and Latin America, the proportion of
persons classified as older will increase from 8 to 15 per cent between 1998 and
2025, although in Africa the proportion is only expected to grow from 5 to 6 per
cent during the period but then doubling by 2050. In sub-Saharan Africa, where the
struggle with the HIV/AIDS pandemic and with economic and social hardship
continues, the percentage will reach half that level. In Europe and North America,
between 1998 and 2025 the proportion of persons classified as older will increase
from 20 to 28 per cent and 16 to 26 per cent, respectively. Such a global
demographic transformation has profound consequences for every aspect of
individual, community, national and international life. Every facet of humanity will
evolve: social, economic, political, cultural, psychological and spiritual.
3. The remarkable demographic transition under way will result in the old and the
young representing an equal share of the worldís population by mid-century.
Globally, the proportion of persons aged 60 years and older is expected to double
between 2000 and 2050, from 10 to 21 per cent, whereas the proportion of children
is projected to drop by a third, from 30 to 21 per cent. In certain developed countries
and countries with economies in transition, the number of older persons already exceeds the number of children and birth rates have fallen below replacement levels.
In some developed countries, the number of older persons will be more than twice
that of children by 2050. In developed countries the average of 71 men per 100
women is expected to increase to 78. In the less developed regions, older women do
not outnumber older men to the same extent as in the developed regions, since
gender differences in life expectancy are generally smaller. Current sex ratios in
developing countries average 88 men per 100 women among those 60 and older, and
are projected to change slightly to 87 by mid-century.