The Global Context of Ageing

Population ageing is a worldwide phenomenon of the twenty-first century, one that is no longer restricted to high-income countries but is evident on all the continents, including low-income countries and countries with economies-in-transition. This phenomenon, however, poses both challenges and opportunities for all societies and policymakers due to the large variations in the rate and timing of population ageing across the globe. This chapter will give an overview of the demographic transitions of population ageing at a global level and focus on the challenges that an ageing population poses and needs to be addressed. The chapter closes with a review of the main international policy documents on ageing, aiming at promoting the well-being of the growing number of older persons worldwide.