by Ashis Sinha
It is expected that the number of persons aged 65 years or over worldwide will be more than twice the number of children under the age of five, and about the same as the number under age 12 by the year 2050. It revealed World Population Prospects 2022, released by United Nations (UN) on World Population Day.
As death rates continue to fall, the world’s population is expected to live an average of 77.2 years by the year 2050. However, in 2021, the least developed countries life expectancy was seven years lower than the worldwide average.
The report urges countries with ageing populations to take action to adjust public programmes to the increasing numbers of elderly people by creating universal health care and long-term care systems and making social security and pensions more financially stable.
“This year’s World Population Day falls during a milestone year when we anticipate the birth of the Earth’s eight billionth inhabitant,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, reacting to the report’s findings.
This is an occasion to celebrate our diversity, recognize our common humanity, and marvel at advancements in health that have extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates, he said.
“At the same time, it is a reminder of our shared responsibility to care for our planet and a moment to reflect on where we still fall short of our commitments to one another,” added Guterres.
Meanwhile, according to the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI), there will be over 319 million elderly by 2050 in India.