Over the past 50 years, from 1974 to 2024, the global population of individuals aged 65 and over has grown significantly. Rising from 5.5% to 10.3%, this rapid increase is projected to continue. According to the UN population projections, this figure is expected to reach 20.7% by the next 50 years withhe number of people 80 and older is set to triple. While developed countries currently account for the largest share of this ageing population, developing nations are also experiencing a rapid rise, often without adequate preparation for the associated challenges. This trend is also linked to declining fertility rates, which in some countries have fallen below the minimum replacement level (UNFPA, 2024).
Source: World Population Prospects 2022 (United Nations, 2022)
In 2024, through the Directorate of Productive Age and Elderly under the Ministry of Health, the Indonesian Government officially acknowledged the country's entry into an era of the ageing population. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a country is considered to have an ageing population when over 10% of its citizens are aged 60 and above. As reported by Antaranews, at a media gathering before the Indonesia International Elderly Health Exhibition (Senior Expo) 2024 in Jakarta, Nida Rohmawati, Director of Health for Productive Age and Elderly at the Ministry of Health mentioned that according to 2023 data from Statistic Indonesia (BPS), people aged 65 or older make up nearly 12% of Indonesia's population, reflecting the demographic shift. This is mirrored in Indonesia's demographic pyramid, where people aged 65 or older are at the top, while the younger population forms the majority beneath. The rise in life expectancy, from 68.2 years in 2022 to 74 years in 2024, further underscores this transition, despite many elderly individuals facing health challenges at this stage of life (Filo, 2024).
The data suggests that Indonesia may experience similar impacts on economic growth as China, particularly as it faces an ageing population. According to Dendi Ramdani, Vice President for Industry and Regional Research at Bank Mandiri, the rapid economic growth in China and Japan are slowing due to their ageing populations. This demographic shift increases the fiscal burden on governments and pressures sectors like food security. In Indonesia, data from the Central Statistics Agency shows that in 2023, 23.3% of farmers were aged between 55-64, and 16.15% were 65 and older, reflecting the ageing trend. As seen in Japan, where the health sector is losing workers due to the ageing population, Indonesia must consider the economic implications of its demographic shift. To address these changes, the government enacted Presidential Regulation Number 88 of 2021, outlining a national strategy with five key pillars:
- Social protection,
- Income and individual capacity guarantees,
- Improvement of health status and quality of life of people aged 65 or older,
- Development of elderly-friendly communities and environments
- Strengthening institutions to uphold the rights and dignity of older adults.
Key issues facing the ageing population
According to the World Health Organization (2015), older adults can be categorised into three subgroups: those with high and stable capacity, those with declining capacity, and those with lost capacity. This framework reflects the natural life course of ageing, as individuals experience a gradual decline in Intrinsic Capacity (IC) and Functional Abilities (FA), often due to age-related diseases. According to the previous data the Ministry of Health confirmed, it can be tentatively concluded that the ageing population's most prominent issue is health and how they can achieve longevity while managing or controlling chronic diseases effectively.
As people age, they increasingly prioritise dignity, particularly in accessing. However, a major challenge is the inadequacy of healthcare services to meet the complex needs of older adults, often leading to their dignity being neglected. The lack of dignity in care can lead to depression and, in severe cases, premature death. Negative interactions and insensitivity to the needs of older adults—such as a lack of empathy between healthcare staff and patients—can lead to a profound loss of dignity, which can be viewed as a form of mistreatment. Health services should aim to preserve the dignity and autonomy of older adults. When treated with dignity, older individuals are more likely to make responsible decisions regarding their health and well-being.
Public Health Framework Health Ageing
Source: WHO, 2015
Social protection provided for ageing population
Concerning the challenges faced by the ageing population, the Indonesian government has implemented several social protection schemes to safeguard the well-being of its ageing population. These programmes include:
- Cash Transfer Programmes
One of the most effective measures in this regard is the Cash Transfer Programmes. These programmes, such as the Pension Programme and Old Age Security Programme (Program Jaminan Hari Tua), provide crucial financial support to older adults who are no longer able to support themselves. This system, whether through contributions or non-contributions such as taxation, has been widely practised in several countries, ensuring the financial security of these older adults.
- Non-cash transfer programmes
This is a programme that provides non-cash assistance to meet daily needs such as Nutrition and Meals Support is a form of social assistance that helps older adults population to continue their ability to meet their daily needs such as rice, eggs, cooking oil, as well as other goods to maintain the health and comfort of older adults. For example, in the Non-Cash Food Assistance Programme, each beneficiary family will receive assistance directly transferred to their account so they can buy food. Another example is the Food Programme for the Elderly, which several regions in Indonesia have implemented. This programme allows older adults to receive food security twice daily by empowering the surrounding community.
- National Health Insurance
The National Health Insurance is a comprehensive health insurance programme for Indonesians by the government. It provides a wide range of health services to older adults at an affordable cost or even free of charge through their insurance account, ensuring their healthcare needs are met.
Moving forward, there is a crucial need for a paradigm shift in how older adults are perceived—not merely as dependents but as valuable contributors to society and the economy. A concerted effort is required to change the narrative from viewing older populations as burdens to recognising their potential as active participants in social and economic life. Governments must go beyond these efforts by developing comprehensive policies that address the diverse needs of the ageing population. This includes integrating ageing-related issues into national development plans and ensuring that local governments play a pivotal role in implementing these strategies. Fostering intergenerational solidarity through innovative platforms can address older adults' health, economic, and social needs, providing a replicable framework for other countries. Finally, investment in long-term care is essential, as there is an urgent need for sustainable, high-quality care systems to support the growing elderly demographic (Bappenas, 2024).
RDI’s Commitment
Aligned with the World Bank's 2024 theme, "Ageing with Dignity," RDI is wholeheartedly committed to improving care and support systems for older persons through our Children, Social Welfare, and Health (CSWH) research cluster, specifically from our Adaptive Social Protection Working Group. Our goal is to comprehensively address the critical needs of the ageing population by conducting thorough research on healthcare and social support demands specifically designed for them.
RDI aim to develop innovative, evidence-based solutions that prioritise older adults' well-being while tackling their unique challenges. As the International Day of Older Persons is approaching, a significant event in the context of RDI’s work, we are dedicated to raising awareness of the unique challenges older adults face. RDI advocates for their rights and strives to foster an inclusive, supportive societal framework.
Explore RDI’s previous initiatives and ongoing projects on the Adaptive Social Protection page. Learn how our efforts positively impact older individuals' lives, helping build a more equitable future for all.
Reference List
Antaranews. (2024). Ministry Prepares Programs as RI Enters Population Aging Era. https://en.antaranews.com/news/318381/ministry-prepares-programs-as-ri-enters-population-aging-era
Filo, S. (2024, July 11). Ministry prepares programs as RI enters population aging era. Antara News; ANTARA. https://en.antaranews.com/news/318381/ministry-prepares-programs-as-ri-enters-population-aging-era
Kementerian PPN/Bappenas. (2024). APRC 2024: Collaboration and Involvement of Regional Governments Key to Facing the Challenges of Demographic Change and Ageism | Kementerian PPN/Bappenas. Bappenas.go.id. https://www.bappenas.go.id/en/berita/aprc-2024-kolaborasi-dan-keterlibatan-pemerintah-daerah-kunci-hadapi-tantangan-perubahan-demografi-dan-kelanjutusiaan-l76HA
UNFPA. (2019). Ageing. Unfpa.org. https://www.unfpa.org/ageing
United Nation. (2023). World Population Ageing 2023: Challenges and opportunities of population ageing in the least developed countries. https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/undesa_pd_2024_wpa2023-report.pdf
WHO. (2016). WHO Clinical Consortium on Healthy Ageing. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/272437/WHO-FWC-ALC-17.2-eng.pdf?sequence=1
WHO. (2023). Thailand’s Leadership and Innovations Towards Healthy Ageing. https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/feature-stories/detail/thailands-leadership-and-innovation-towards-healthy-ageing
