Elderly population in India: Its phenomenal growth and challenges ahead
India's elderly population is projected to double by 2050, reaching 346 million. This exponential growth, exceeding previous decades' increases, necessitates significant investments in healthcare, housing, and pensions. The rise of solo aging, particularly among women, presents further challenges. While government schemes exist, addressing societal attitudes and implementing inclusive policies are crucial for ensuring the dignity and well-being of India's aging population.
New Delhi: Even as India boasts of having the highest number of young people, ageing is also taking huge strides. By 2050, the elderly population of India is expected to double. According to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) India chief Andrea Wojnar, the number of individuals who are 60 years of age and above is projected to double to 346 million in 2050 in India. In an interview with PTI in July 2024, Wojnar pointed out that this staggering rise will call for more investment in healthcare, housing and pensions, especially for older women who are "more likely to live alone and face poverty".
The elderly population has been growing steadily over the years. As per the 2011 Census, there were around 104 million persons aged 60 years and above, accounting for 8.6% of the total population. By 2031, the elderly population is estimated to touch 193.4 million.
What's concerning is the fact that by 2050, individuals aged 60 and above will consist 20.8% of the population, almost doubling their proportion from 10.5% in 2022, the 2023 India Ageing Report indicates.
The growth in elderly population matters more than ever now. This is because the rise is exponential and have never seen such a pace before. Till the 1980s, the elderly population went up by only 30% per decade. However, it increased to 35% in the following decades. Currently, the decadal growth rate of the elderly population of India is estimated to be at 41%.
With such stupendous growth, by 2046, there's every likelihood that the elderly population will have surpassed the population of children (aged 0 to 15 years) in the country, revealed 2023 India Ageing Report. The working-age population (15–59) will also decline by 2050.
It is also estimated that the population of people aged 80+ years will grow at a rate of around 279% between 2022 and 2050. And since women have a higher life expectancy in India, they will outlive men. So, there will be "predominance of widowed and highly dependent very old women".
Solo Ageing
While different findings indicate that there will be more old women than men in Indian society by 2050, there's also a study which shows that there's an increasing trend of solo ageing among India's elderly population. The shift is mainly driven by increasing preference for financial and social freedom.
The Agewell Foundation study, published in September 2024, was titled 'Study on Solo Aging with Special Focus on the Status of Older People Living Alone'. The study revealed that 14.3% of elderly respondents lived alone, with a higher proportion in urban areas (15%) compared to rural areas (13.4%).
Over 31% of elderly respondents said they choose to live alone for independence, while 26.7% cited socio-economic factors, such as the migration of younger generations and the rise of nuclear families, as reasons. Around 35.6 per cent of elderly individuals also pointed out that loneliness was a major drawback of ageing alone.
Govt schemes catering to the elderly
The Indian government has been rolling out healthcare, and social welfare schemes for the elderly population over the years. These include Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana, Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE), and Atal Pension Yojana (APY).
On March 20, 2025, Kerala became the first state in India to pass a law creating a commission for senior citizens. The commission would focus on protecting the rights, welfare, and rehabilitation of the elderly. Such commissions should be set up in other states as well.
Challenges ahead
A lot of them who are working today will become senior citizens and attain the age of 60 by 2050. They will need not just health, but social as well as financial security.
The United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030) also acknowledges the extensive impact of ageing, which affects not only health systems but also labour and financial markets, social protection, education, and other areas.
In India, the elderly population is looked down upon as a "burden” and mostly treated shabbily. This socio-cultural mindset needs to change. A healthy mindset towards the elderly can solve half of the problems. The elderly population needs health cover and pensions, but it also needs acceptance by the younger population. Promoting positive intergenerational connections between seniors and young people is crucial and most challenging.
Apart from this, policies must be designed to suit the specific needs of the elderly population. These policies should be inclusive and put dignity at the heart of their implementation.