Elderly could outnumber kids in India by mid-century: UN
India and could surpass the children's population by mid-century, UNFPA's latest «India Ageing Report 2023» has revealed.
Terming the rate of growth of the elderly population as «unprecedented», the report has observed, «By the end of the century, the elderly will constitute over 36% of the total population. Sharp growth in the elderly population is observed from 2010 onwards along with a decline in the age group of below 15 years, indicating rapidity of ageing in India.» The statistics can be alarming for India, which prides itself as a young nation.
«Four years before 2050, the population size of the elderly will be higher than the population size of children aged 0-14 years. By that time, the population share of 15-59 years will also see a dip.
Undoubtedly, India today will turn into a rapidly ageing society in the coming decades,» the report said. It is also an indication that the policymakers will have to plan for the elderly population in India.
A distinguishing feature of ageing in India is the significant interstate variation in absolute levels and growth (and hence, share) of the elderly population, given the varying stages and pace of demographic transition across states. Most of the states in the southern region and select northern states such as Himachal Pradesh and Punjab reported a higher share of the elderly population than the national average in 2021, a gap that is expected to widen by 2036, the report said.
