Caring for Our Elders: INDIA AGEING REPORT 2023

Source: International Institute for Population Sciences & United Nations Population Fund. India Ageing Report 2023: Caring for Our Elders – Institutional Responses. United Nations Population Fund, New Delhi.

The report highlights the rapid demographic transition in India, where the proportion of people aged 60 and above stands at 10.5% in 2022 (149 million) and is projected to double to 20.8% (347 million) by 2050. This shift presents major challenges and opportunities for health, economic security, and social integration. The report underlines that aging in India is part of a broader global trend, but is occurring more rapidly in developing regions. Asia currently houses 58% of the world’s older population, and by 2050, its elderly will constitute 25% of its total population. The report reviews institutional responses, including government policies such as the National Policy for Older Persons and a range of social security, welfare, and healthcare schemes. It also maps the roles played by community-based organizations and the corporate sector in elder care, emphasizing the need for strengthened collaboration and improved outreach to meet the needs of India’s growing elderly population