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SUMMARY                       The 2002 regional survey on ageing has been conducted to review the current situation of older persons in the Asian and Pacific region and analyse future directions to derive a regional strategy for the implementation of international, regional and national commitments on ageing.  A questionnaire was sent out in June 2002 to 56 members and associate members of ESCAP that are situated in Asia and the Pacific.  The findings and analysis contained in the report are based on information available from 29 countries and areas. The sources of data being used for this survey analysis include responses to the survey questionnaire, data from national studies, reports and governmental statements at the Second World Assembly on Ageing (Madrid, April 2002).                 Responses from the countries and areas reveal the priorities attached and actions undertaken by governments to meet the challenges of ageing, improve the quality of life of older persons and ensure their continued participation and development in society.  These include the emphasis on building positive images of ageing, promoting active ageing and life-long preparation for ageing, strengthening traditional support systems for the elderly, providing assistance to older persons who are vulnerable and without family support, review of social security systems, establishing standards of care, developing integrated health and social services, providing quality long-term care and community services.                 In accordance with specific national circumstances, Governments in the region have undertaken measures and set up mechanisms, to implement their commitments under the 1999 Macao Plan of Action in Ageing for Asia and the Pacific and the 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.  In view of the difficulties encountered during the implementation process, such as lack of funds, knowledge, and training, continued regional and international cooperation is essential to facilitate the exchange of experiences and expertise among countries and areas.                 The report concludes by discussing future priorities in the coming decades.  These include old age pension and social security systems, health care coverage and public care concerns, formal/informal care provision and protection of the rights of older persons.

 

I.  Background

Population ageing has been a global issue since the early 1980’s.  While the majority of the world’s elderly population resides in the developing countries, the Asian and Pacific region is home to the largest number of older persons.  Worldwide, the number of people aged 60 and over will increase from about 600 million in 2000 to almost 2000 million in 2050, of whom about half will reside in Asia.   

The Asian and Pacific region is a heterogeneous group with vast differences in size, population, wealth, development levels and cultural diversity. The region is ageing rapidly.  In order to capture the commonality as well as diversity, a regional survey was carried out by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific( UNESCAP) in June 2002 to gather information on the situation of older persons, areas of concern and priorities in national policies and programmes on ageing in the region. The findings also reveal future directions to derive a regional strategy for the implementation of the international, regional and national commitments on ageing.

The report discusses the results of survey using data collected from 29 respondent countries and areas (52 per cent) which are members and associate members of UNESCAP. Out of the 56 regional members/associate members of ESCAP to whom a questionnaire was sent, 25 countries and areas (45 per cent) responded to the questionnaire.  Among them, 6 countries and areas (China; Hong Kong, China; Japan; Macao, China; Mongolia; and  Republic of Korea) are from East Asia, 8 countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam) from Southeast Asia, 5 countries (Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) from South Asia, 3 countries (Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) from Central Asia and 3 countries (Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea) from the Pacific. Data on 4 countries (India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Singapore, and Turkey) were also available from national reports on ageing and governmental statements delivered at the Second World Assembly  on Ageing (Madrid, April 2002). The analysis of the present report is based on both responses to the questionnaire, and national studies, reports, national plans of action and governmental statements at the Second World Assembly on Ageing. The responses from 4 countries (Australia, Japan, Tajikistan, and  Uzbekistan) were received after the cut-off analysis and date for data collection and therefore could not be included in the present analysis. However, as appropriate, references are made to specific policies and activities on ageing in these countries to illustrate relevant points of discussion.

II.  Population Ageing in the Asia-Pacific Region

The Asia-Pacific region is most diverse in its population composition.  The region houses probably the second oldest country in the world – Japan, with an elderly population of 23.2 per cent in 2000, and the biggest elderly population in absolute numbers – China, with nearly 130 million older persons in the same year.  The other more developed countries and areas in the region such as Australia; Hong Kong, China; New Zealand; Republic of Koreal; and Singapore, also have high percentages of the population aged 60+, ranging from 10 to 20 per cent.  Developing countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Azerbaijan have the percentage of elderly people as high as 10 or slightly over 10.  In comparison, some South-east and South Asian countries, such as Cambodia, Lao Peole’s Democratic Republic, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, are still youthful with lower proportions of older persons, around 5 to 7 per cent.  Despite this fact, most countries in the region will experience considerable growth in their elderly populations in the next few decades when the proportion of people aged 60+ will triple or quadruple to over 20 or 30 per cent.  Table 1 shows the current and projected percentage of the elderly population of selected countries and areas in the region.     

Another important feature of the region’s demography is that, with the exception of

Japan, there is probably no 'demographic time-bomb' set to explode, creating serious short-term problems. However, many countries in the region will take a shorter span for their ageing populations to double or triple in percentages.  While it took developed countries (such as France, Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Sweden) 80 to 150 years to double their elderly population from 7 per cent to 14 per cent or from 10 to 20 per cent, most countries in Asia and the Pacific will experience that process in less 50 years time.  In China, it is projected that it will take only 27 years, from 2000 to 2027 for the proportion of the population aged 60 and over to double from 10 to 20 per cent. The relatively short span of time has therefore exerted certain urgency on many countries who have to face and prepare for the challenge of simultaneous development and population ageing.

Two other significant characteristics observed in the region are the ageing of the elderly and the feminization of ageing.  The proportion of the old-olds among the elderly population is increasing. The percentage of people aged 75+ will increase from 23 per cent in 2000 to 38 per cent in 2050.  By 2020, 48 per cent of the world’s people aged 80+ will reside in Asia, compared to the present 39 per cent. Many of these older persons in the region are often without substantial personal resources.  Few of them have participated in any pension schemes and a considerable proportion are living in the rural areas where social and welfare services are relatively underdeveloped, so they may well suffer if state and family resources are not available. 

Table 1.  Demographic Profile of Selected Countries and Areas in the Asia-Pacific Region*