ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/CL2.GPID/2022/1/POLICY BRIEF
Country: Arab region
Publication Type: Policy briefs
Cluster: Gender Justice, Population and Inclusive Development
Focus Area: Population dynamics & migration
Initiatives: Older persons
SDGs: Goal 1: No Poverty, Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being, Goal 4: Quality Education, Goal 5: Gender Equality, Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Keywords: Ageing, Care of ageing persons, Arab countries, Disability, Health, Pensions, Population, Population dynamics, Population trends, Social development, Social protection, Basic education, Poverty, Economic conditions, Education, Ageing persons, Health services
Building forward better: Ageing trends and socioeconomic status of older persons in the Arab region
June 2022
Most Arab countries will have an ageing population or will have become aged in the next 30 years. This statement would have been unimaginable a few decades ago when the region was witnessing a massive population boom. While the number of older persons, aged 65 and above, in the Arab region increased by 16 million in the last fifty years, it is projected to increase by over 50 million in the next thirty years, reaching 71.5 million by 2050. Population ageing carries profound economic and social implications.
The present report focuses on the care ecosystem for older persons as an entry point to address older persons’ priorities and ensure that all people can age with dignity in the region. The care ecosystem is comprised of two distinct yet closely related elements: social protection and long-term care (LTC). This report sheds light on the status quo in the Arab region, characterized by weak social protection systems and underdeveloped long-term care systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has further heightened the vulnerability of older persons and revealed the limitations of the care ecosystem. To support member states, the report provides a one-of-a-kind roadmap to building forward better for older persons. It calls upon countries to seize the demographic window of opportunity and reflect on the recent lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the protection and empowerment of older persons.
Related content
Population dynamics & migration
,
Most Arab countries will have an ageing population or will have become aged in the next 30 years. This statement would have been unimaginable a few decades ago when the region was witnessing a massive population boom. While the number of older persons, aged 65 and above, in the Arab region increased by 16 million in the last fifty years, it is projected to increase by over 50 million in the next thirty years, reaching 71.5 million by 2050. Population ageing carries profound economic and social implications.
The present report focuses on the care ecosystem for older persons as an entry point to address older persons’ priorities and ensure that all people can age with dignity in the region. The care ecosystem is comprised of two distinct yet closely related elements: social protection and long-term care (LTC). This report sheds light on the status quo in the Arab region, characterized by weak social protection systems and underdeveloped long-term care systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has further heightened the vulnerability of older persons and revealed the limitations of the care ecosystem. To support member states, the report provides a one-of-a-kind roadmap to building forward better for older persons. It calls upon countries to seize the demographic window of opportunity and reflect on the recent lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the protection and empowerment of older persons.
