Population aging in sub-Saharan Africa: Present and prospects

Abstract

A total of 44 countries is considered here for the analysis. Overall, the level of population aging in 2012 is low in sub-Saharan Africa, around 5%. More than one third (38.6%) of the countries show more than 100% increase in the proportion of 60+ population by 2050. About 28% of the countries have a growth rate of 50% or less. The regional variations within sub-Saharan Africa show that the eastern and southern regions have more growth potential as far as population aging is concerned. No doubt, in sub-Saharan Africa, poverty among older persons is higher than that of the rest of the population. However, 55% of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa have a real GDP growth of more than 5%. Further, a large number of sub-Saharan countries are projected to experience high and increasing economic support ratios for years or decades to come, and can therefore benefit significantly from the ‘demographic dividend’ brought in by the ongoing age structural transition. Thus, with higher GDP growth levels and hence reduction in poverty, higher educational levels and changing life styles including independent living, we can reasonably expect increased scope for the utilization of gerontechnology in the coming decades, at least in a limited way.