India’s elderly population expected to double by 2050: UNFPA

The elderly population of India is expected to double by 2050, according to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) India chief Andrea Wojnar.

• This includes the factors of India’s youthful population, ageing population, urbanisation, migration, and climate resilience.
• the number of individuals who are 60 years of age and above is projected to double to 346 million in 2050.
• She stressed that there is a need for increased investment in healthcare, housing and pension schemes and especially so for older women who are likely to live alone and face poverty.
• India also has a large youthful population, with 252 million people aged between 10 and 19 years.
• They also require investments in health, education, job training, and job creation, alongside promoting gender equality, to help the demographic grow and move forward as drivers of the nation.
• India is projected to be 50 per cent urban by 2050, the UNFPA India chief said, and building smart cities, strong infrastructure, and affordable housing would be essential to manage issues such as slum growth, air pollution, and the environment.
• There is also a need, she highlighted, to consider women’s safety and security, access to healthcare, education, and employment to improve the overall quality of life and also push for gender equality.

Family Planning:

As the first country to implement a national family planning programme, Wojnar acknowledged India’s progress, as well as the challenges that remain

• 4 per cent of family planning needs are still unmet and 7.5 per cent of are pregnancies unplanned, according to the latest data from NFHS-5 (2019-21).
• Wojnar said that this year, more access needs to be given to contraceptives and family planning resources, particularly in high-need areas.
• The power of informed choice, according to her, transforms public, family and community health.
• She also emphasised the importance of data-driven policies to create a more “resilient and equitable” future for all.
• On this year’s theme of World Population Day, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) underscored the importance of “Healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies for the well-being of mother and child” under the FP 2030 (Family Planning) Partnership.

About UNFPA:

• Founded: UNFPA was established in 1969 as a trust fund and began its operations in 1969.
  Headquarters: New York City, USA.
  The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man, and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. It is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

Key Objectives and Areas of Focus:
Reproductive Health:

• Ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health services.
  Providing family planning services to prevent unintended pregnancies.
  Promoting maternal health to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity.
• Gender Equality:
• Empowering women and girls.
  Ending gender-based violence and harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation.
  Promoting the rights and health of adolescents and youth.
  Population and Development:
• Supporting countries in collecting and using population data for policies and programs to reduce poverty and improve health.
  Addressing demographic changes and their implications for sustainable development.
  Humanitarian Response:
• Providing life-saving reproductive health services in emergencies and humanitarian settings.
  Protecting women and girls from gender-based violence in crisis situations.