Aging

One of humanity's major achievements is the rising life expectancy in many regions of the world. This unprecedented demographic transformation means that by 2050 the number of persons aged 60 years and over will increase from 600 million to almost 2 billion. The increase will be greatest and most rapid in developing countries where the older population is expected to quadruple during the next 50 years. This demographic transformation challenges all societies in the twenty-first century to promote increased opportunities for older persons, in particular: independence, participation, care, self-fulfillment and dignity.

The modern world has unprecedented wealth and technological capacity and has presented extraordinary opportunities: to empower men and women to reach old age in better health and with more fully realized well-being; to seek the full inclusion and participation of older persons in societies; to enable older persons to contribute more effectively to their communities and to the development of their societies; and to steadily improve care and support for older persons as they need it.

Effective collaboration between governments, international agencies, nonprofits, and the private sector is essential to ensure that older persons enjoy a life of fulfillment, health, security and active participation in the economic, social, cultural and political life of their societies.

Source: United Nations; Second World Assembly on Ageing, 2002; Resolution 1