UNGA chief: Older persons to outnumber youth by '30

NEW YORK, May 9 (KUNA) -- President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Philemon Yang said late Thursday that older persons will outnumber youth by 20230, urging governments to adopt policies that meet old people's various needs.
"By 2030, older persons will outnumber youth. They will comprise twice the number of children under the age of five," Philemon said at the UNGA High-level Meeting on Ageing.
He added that over the coming decade, the number of persons aged 60 years or older is projected to grow to a staggering 1.6 billion people - close to 20 percent of the world population.
He noted that this transformation will touch every country and every community, warning that this transformation has implications for every sphere of policymaking: from human rights, and social development to economic planning.
The UNGA Chief stressed that demands on healthcare, social protection, and economic systems will surge and the international community must anticipate these changes and react accordingly.
Therefore, he called on governments to adopt policies that meet the diverse needs of older persons. (end) ast.mt