Population ageing or rapid increase in the number of older people is a global phenomenon. Nations are greying as the elderly population is growing much faster than the overall population due to decreasing fertility and increasing life expectancy.

In developing countries, the process is being compressed into two or three decades over a single generation. In 2050, there will be two billion people over the age of 60 years; 80% of them will be living in developing countries.

The Region is witnessing an increase in the number and percentage of the population aged 60 and over. The number of persons aged 60 and older in the Region was around 26.8 million (5.8% of the total population) in 2000. It is projected that in 2025, older persons will make up nearly 8.7%, and by 2050 nearly 15% of the population.