The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is calling governments worldwide to urgently rethink how ageing is defined and understood, warning that outdated assumptions about older populations risk undermining both economic resilience and human rights in a rapidly changing demographic landscape.
Speaking at the 9th Global Symposium on Low Fertility and Ageing, co-hosted by UNFPA and Korea’s Ministry of Data and Statistics (MODS), officials cautioned that global fertility continues to decline across regions.
As a result, all countries, regardless of income level, are moving toward older populations.
The event, held from December 2-3, in Seoul, underscored that ageing is not a neutral process and that policy responses must reflect its gendered dimensions.
'Ageing is a gendered experience'
Experts highlighted that women, who generally live longer than men, bear a heavier burden of unpaid care, encounter wider gaps in income and pensions, and are more likely to spend extended periods living with illness or disability.
Despite substantial contributions to families, communities, and economies, older people of all genders remain too often excluded or stigmatized, UNFPA warned.
From demographic anxiety to demographic resilience
UNFPA and Korean officials urged moving beyond outdated notions of “dependency.”
Many older individuals labeled as dependents are in fact actively contributing in financing systems, volunteering and supporting social structures.
The agency called for redefining old age and building social and economic mechanisms that support an intergenerational contract, ensuring that older people can engage fully in society with appropriate support and benefits.
“Demographic change must be met with innovation, solidarity, and a shared purpose,” said UNFPA Deputy Executive Director (Programme a.i.) Pio Smith in his opening remarks.
“Together, we can build a future where everyone, at every age, is empowered to thrive, contribute, and live a healthy, fulfilled and dignified life.”
Global challenge, shared solutions
The symposium has grown into a leading platform for policy dialogue on low fertility and ageing since its 2017 inception.
Korea, one of the world’s fastest-ageing societies, has emerged as a hub for rights-based, evidence-driven demographic policymaking.
“This is not a challenge for one country alone,” noted Yang Soon Pil, director general of Korea’s MODS.
“Ageing is a structural change the world is experiencing, though at different speeds. Better solutions emerge when policies, experiences, and solidarity are shared.”
Data at the center of demographic resilience
UNFPA emphasized that effective demographic planning begins with robust data systems.
As a guardian of census support and national population data strengthening, UNFPA is expanding its focus on demographic resilience under its new global strategic plan.
A newly integrated fourth outcome centers on helping countries understand, adapt to, and shape their demographic futures, grounded in gender equality and the rights and choices of people, especially women and girls.
The two-day event gathered policymakers, researchers, and demographic experts from around the world for outcome-focused discussions on preparing for low fertility and ageing without coercive or rights-infringing measures.
Bangladesh context
Bangladesh faces rapid population ageing, with about 7% of its 175.7 million people, or roughly 12 million, aged 65 and above in 2025, marking the onset of this demographic shift, according to the latest government data.
By 2025, one in ten citizens will be 60 or older, rising to one in five by 2050, straining healthcare, pensions, and rural support systems where most elderly reside.
Women bear disproportionate burdens through unpaid care and health issues, with 95% of older adults facing complications, underscoring UNFPA's call for data-driven policies and intergenerational solidarity tailored to local realities.