MIPAA in Asia and the Pacific –

where are we?

Vanessa Steinmayer

Population Affairs Officer

Second informal consultation of

ESCAP member States on the Asia-Pacific Fourth Review and

Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing:

process, survey, data and policy

9 August 2021, online

2020: More than 630 million older persons in the

Asia-Pacific region

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019).

World Population Prospects 2019 . Accessed 23 April 2021.

17

18

18

20

22

23

24

25

27

45

45

45

53

65

69

73

85

115

Singapore (2000-2015)

Viet Nam (2020-2035)

Republic of Korea (2000-2020)

Sri Lanka (2010-2030)

Thailand (2002-2024)

China (2005-2025)

Japan (1970-1996)

Brazil (2010-2035)

Turkey (2010-2035)

Poland (1966-2011)

Spain (1947-1992)

United Kingdom (1930-1975)

Hungary (1944-1994)

Canada (1944-2009)

United States (1944-2013)

Australia (1938-2011)

Sweden (1890-1975)

France (1865-1980)

In Asia-Pacific, many countries experiencing rapid

population ageing

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition. U.S.

Census Bureau, International Population Reports (2009), An Aging World: 2008. Accessed 23 April 2021

Number of years for the share of the population 65+ to increase from 7 to 14 per cent

Priority Directions, Issues

and Objectives of the MIPAA

Vibrant and sustainableAgeing societies

Pillar I

Older

persons and development

Pillar II

Advancing

Health and

well-being

into old age

Pillar III

Ensuring

enabling and

supportive

environment

The 3 Pillars of Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA)

Pillar I:

Older persons and

development

1. Active

participation in

society and

development

3. Rural

development,

migration,

urbanization

4. Access to

knowledge,

education,

training

2. Work and the

ageing labour

force

5.

Intergeneration

al solidarity

6. Eradication of

poverty

7. Income

security, social

protection/social

security, poverty

prevention

8. Emergency

situations

Pillar II:

Advancing health and

well-being into old age

Pillar III:

Ensuring enabling and

supportive environments

1. Health

promoting and

well-being

throughout life

2. Universal and

equal access to

health-care

services

5. Mental health

needs of older

persons

6. Older persons

with disabilities

3. Older persons

and HIV/AIDS

4. Training of

care providers

and health

professionals3. Neglect,

abuse and

violence

1. Housing and

the living

environment

2. Care and

support for

caregivers

4. Images of

ageing

Priority Directions, Issues and Objectives of

the MIPAA

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

100+

95-99

90-94

85-89

80-84

75-79

70-74

65-69

60-64

55-59

50-54

45-49

40-44

35-39

30-34

25-29

20-24

15-19

10-14

5-9

Percentage

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019).

World Population Prospects 2019 - Special Aggregates, Online Edition. Rev 1; United Nations,

Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019).

In Asia-Pacific, most older persons 60+ are

women, 2020

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Arm

en

ia

Kaza

kh

stan

Tajikis

tan

Aze

rbaijan

Ho

ng

Ko

ng

, C

hin

a

Mo

ng

olia

Tu

rkm

en

ista

n

Kyrg

yzs

tan

Uzb

ekis

tan

Tu

rkey

Bru

nei D

aru

ssala

m

Sam

oa

Myan

mar

Maca

u, C

hin

a

Iran

, Is

lam

ic R

ep

. o

f

Au

stra

lia

Afg

han

ista

n

Ind

ia

Ch

ina

Sri

Lan

ka

Pap

ua N

ew

Gu

inea

To

ng

a

New

Zeala

nd

Th

ailan

d

Pakis

tan

Vie

t N

am

Mala

ysi

a

Mald

ives

Fiji

Ban

gla

desh

Sin

gap

ore

Lao

PD

R

Ph

ilip

pin

es

Rep

. o

f K

ore

a

Bh

uta

n

Geo

rgia

Cam

bo

dia

Ind

on

esi

a

Nep

al

Van

uatu

So

lom

on

Isl

an

ds

Tim

or-

Lest

e

Perc

en

tag

e

total female male

Labour force participation of population aged

65+, total, men and women, 2019

(ILO modelled estimates)

Older persons participate in the

labour force in many countries

Daeng Starch (76) lost her legs and fingers due to leprosy. Despite her disability and deprivation she was treated with stitches so she could keep working

with clothes, pillow cases and flags at her home in the leprosy complex at Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Photo by: Masyudi Firmansyah

Source: ILO, ILOSTAT, Online database, Accessed 23 April 2021.

Work in Asia and the Pacific is often informal – limited

social protection

0

20

40

60

80

100

Ban

gla

desh

Ind

ia

Myan

mar

Nep

al

Ind

on

esi

a

Lao

PD

R

To

ng

a

Pakis

tan

Sri

Lan

ka

Vie

t N

am

Kyrg

zsta

n

Th

ailan

d

Van

uatu

Mald

ives

Arm

en

ia

Kir

ibati

Fiji

Bru

nei D

aru

ssala

m

Geo

rgia

Mo

ng

olia

Sam

oa

Mars

hall Isl

an

ds

Perc

en

tag

e

Informal employment, males and females, latest available year

(percentage of total non-agricultural employment)

Male Female

Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database . SDG Indicator 8.3.1 – Proportion of informal employment in total employment by sex

and sector (%) – Annual (Economic Activity: Non-agriculture) Accessed 23 April 2021.

Coverage of pensions is low in most

Asia-Pacific countries

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Perc

en

tag

e

Legal coverage of old age mandatory contributory pensions, as percentage of

working age population

(Latest available year)

Female Total Male

Source: ILO, World Social Protection Data Dashboards, online. Accessed 21 April 2021

Pillar I:

Older persons and

development

1. Active

participation in

society and

development

3. Rural

development,

migration,

urbanization

4. Access to

knowledge,

education,

training

2. Work and the

ageing labour

force

5.

Intergeneration

al solidarity

6. Eradication of

poverty

7. Income

security, social

protection/social

security, poverty

prevention

8. Emergency

situations

Pillar II:

Advancing health and

well-being into old age

Pillar III:

Ensuring enabling and

supportive environments

1. Health

promoting and

well-being

throughout life

2. Universal and

equal access to

health-care

services

5. Mental health

needs of older

persons

6. Older persons

with disabilities

3. Older persons

and HIV/AIDS

4. Training of

care providers

and health

professionals3. Neglect,

abuse and

violence

1. Housing and

the living

environment

2. Care and

support for

caregivers

4. Images of

ageing

Priority Directions, Issues and Objectives of

the MIPAA (continued)

In Asia-Pacific, older persons often spend

up to 10 years with impairments

Source: WHO, Global Health Observatory data repository (2019). Accessed 23 April 2021.

0 20 40 60 80

Kiribati

Micronesia (Federated States of)

Afghanistan

Papua New Guinea

Vanuatu

Solomon Islands

Pakistan

Mongolia

Fiji

Myanmar

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Timor-Leste

Cambodia

Turkmenistan

Philippines

India

Nepal

Russian Federation

Tajikistan

Samoa

Indonesia

Kazakhstan

Viet Nam

Tonga

Bhutan

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Uzbekistan

Kyrgyzstan

Bangladesh

Malaysia

Sri Lanka

Brunei Darussalam

Thailand

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

China

Turkey

New Zealand

Maldives

Australia

Republic of Korea

Singapore

Japan

Male

Years

Female

0 20 40 60 80

Afghanistan

Kiribati

Pakistan

Micronesia (Federated States of)

Papua New Guinea

Solomon Islands

Vanuatu

India

Fiji

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Timor-Leste

Nepal

Samoa

Myanmar

Cambodia

Tajikistan

Bhutan

Indonesia

Mongolia

Philippines

Turkmenistan

Bangladesh

Tonga

Uzbekistan

Brunei Darussalam

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Malaysia

Kazakhstan

Russian Federation

Kyrgyzstan

Sri Lanka

Viet Nam

Turkey

China

Maldives

Thailand

New Zealand

Australia

Republic of Korea

Singapore

Japan

Life expectancy at birth (dark color) vs. Healthy life expectancy at birth (light color), 2019

Pillar I:

Older persons and

development

1. Active

participation in

society and

development

3. Rural

development,

migration,

urbanization

4. Access to

knowledge,

education,

training

2. Work and the

ageing labour

force

5.

Intergeneration

al solidarity

6. Eradication of

poverty

7. Income

security, social

protection/social

security, poverty

prevention

8. Emergency

situations

Pillar II:

Advancing health and

well-being into old age

Pillar III:

Ensuring enabling and

supportive environments

1. Health

promoting and

well-being

throughout life

2. Universal and

equal access to

health-care

services

5. Mental health

needs of older

persons

6. Older persons

with disabilities

3. Older persons

and HIV/AIDS

4. Training of

care providers

and health

professionals3. Neglect,

abuse and

violence

1. Housing and

the living

environment

2. Care and

support for

caregivers

4. Images of

ageing

Priority Directions, Issues and Objectives of

the MIPAA (continued)

In Asia and the Pacific, most older persons (65+)

live with their children – but this is changing

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

New

Zeala

nd

Ru

ssia

n F

ed

era

tio

n

Au

stra

lia

Iran

(Is

lam

ic…

Rep

ub

lic

of

Ko

rea

Kaza

kh

stan

Jap

an

Tu

rkey

Arm

en

ia

Ho

ng

Ko

ng

, C

hin

a

Maca

o, C

hin

a

Ind

on

esi

a

Mo

ng

olia

Vie

t N

am

Kyrg

yzs

tan

Uzb

ekis

tan

Ch

ina

Aze

rbaijan

Mala

ysi

a

Th

ailan

d

Myan

mar

Nep

al

Ind

ia

Cam

bo

dia

Ph

ilip

pin

es

Tim

or-

Lest

e

Mald

ives

Tajikis

tan

Fiji

Ban

gla

desh

Pakis

tan

Afg

han

ista

n

On

e-p

ers

on

ho

use

ho

lds

(perc

en

tag

e)

Females Males

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2018). Database on the Households and

Living Arrangements of Older Persons 2018, Accessed 8 October 2019.

… but more women live

alone than men

Percentage of population aged 65 or over living

in a one-person household, latest available

year

Mobile phone use is high in the Asia-Pacific region –

but less so for older persons

Source: ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators database, 24th Edition, Accessed 23 April 2020

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Georgia Hong Kong,

China

Indonesia Iran (Islamic

Republic of)

Japan Kazakhstan Macao,

China

Singapore Uzbekistan

To

tal P

op

ula

tio

n (

perc

en

tag

e)

25-74 Male 25-74 Female 75+ Male 75+ Female

Individuals owning a mobile cellular telephone, by gender, percentage of population

of the respective broader age group

Trends on the radar

• Social protection – esp. for older

women

• Older women and gender

dimensions of population ageing

• Receiving and giving care

• Older persons in rural areas

• Older persons and ICTs

• Future of work

• Climate change and older

persons

• COVID19 – health,

economic and social

impacts

Issues that continue to need attention

Emerging issues

THANK YOU!

• www.unescap.org

UNESCAP

UNESCAP

UNESCAP

UNITEDNATIONSESCAP

UNITEDNATIONSESCAP

• https://www.population-trends-asiapacific.org/

For questions: escap-sdd@un.org