It is estimated that the proportion of persons aged 60 years and older in the world will double between 2000 and 2050, from 10 to 21 per cent (i.e. from 600 million to 2,000 million in absolute number). In 2025, it is projected that 15 per cent of the world population will be aged 60 and over. Among the world's population aged 60 years and above, 52 per cent live in Asia and the Pacific in 2002, and this is projected to increase to 59 percent in 2025. Asia and the Pacific is the most rapidly ageing region of the world. As the region urbanizes, the availability of traditional family support is likely to be reduced.
The challenges brought about by the regional trend of population ageing and its implications are enormous, not only for individuals, but also for every aspect of community, national and international life. Many countries within the Asia-Pacific region are already taking active measures to deal with the challenges of population ageing and to create a “society for all ages”. The Macao Declaration and Plan of Action on Ageing for Asia and the Pacific endorsed by Governments in the region in 1999 addresses seven areas of concern relating to ageing and older persons. They are: (a) the social position of older persons; (b) older persons and the family; (c) health and nutrition; (d) housing, transportation and the built environment; (e) older persons and the market; (f) income security, maintenance and employment; and (g) social services and the community. The Macao Plan of Action provides a regional platform for members of the region to cooperate and share their experiences in policies and programmes to meet the challenges of ageing. The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) adopted by the Second World Assembly on Ageing in 2002, in concordance with the Macao Plan, has also set out priority areas and action points that guide efforts towards the goal of ensuring that societies and individuals age with security and dignity while maintaining their full participation and human rights.
The results of the regional survey on ageing conducted by ESCAP in June 2002 with the support of the Government of Macao, China reveal common trends and priorities in national policies and programmes on ageing as well as diversities in policy development and implementation among the countries and areas in the region. While it is generally acknowledged that ageing is a positive outcome of combined social, economic and health advances, the challenge faced by many countries in the region is to develop appropriate policies and take practical measures to transform this positive concept of ageing into reality. Countries that have already developed national policies on ageing will no doubt move on to a more prepared and structured strategy in dealing with population ageing over 30 to 50 years. A national strategy on how to prepare society for the challenges of ageing is essential in ensuring that the goals of active ageing are achieved. The regional implementation strategy aims to provide guidelines on the implementation of commitments on ageing made under the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and the Macao Plan of Action on Ageing for Asia and the Pacific.
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