In a country that currently boasts the greatest cohort of youth, a new UN research has emphasised the "rapidity of ageing in India" by highlighting the dramatic increase in old population from 2010 onwards together with a fall in the age group of those under 15. According to predictions, India's senior population will surpass that of children between 0 and 14 years of age in 2046, while the population of those between 15 and 59 years will decline.
In the "India Ageing Report 2023," which uses this data as support, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) states that "undoubtedly, relatively young India today will turn into a rapidly ageing society in the coming decades."
The report highlights that there are 149 million people aged 60 years and above in 2022 (as on 1 July), comprising around 10.5% of the country’s population. But this is estimated to increase to 15% (around 227 million) by 2036. The proportion of older people will increase to 20.8% (347 million) by 2050. As a result, one in five people will be above the age of 65. The elderly will make up more than 36% of the nation's population by the end of the century.
As per an “ageing index” in the report, there are 39 older persons per 100 children in India according to 2021 population estimates and the southern and western Indian states reflect higher ageing when compared to central and northeastern states.