Dear Members and Friends,
The Global Watch Index is compiled by HelpAge International, a London-based non-profit with affiliates in 65 countries. Its mission is to help older people challenge discrimination, understand and overcome financial obstacles, and lead secure, active lives. HelpAge launched the Index in 2013.
According to HelpAge, there are now about 868 million people in the world over 60 years old. That is approximately 12% of the global population. By 2050, the number of people over 60 will rise to 2.02 billion. In some countries the number of people over sixty will make up 30% of the population.
There are thirteen indicators measured in the Index. Life expectancy as well as access to pension plans and amenities like pubic transit comprise the index for each country. HelpAge reports that the countries in the Index have 90% of the world's 60-plus population.
Norway leads the Index for well-being of the elderly. Sweden, Canada and Germany rank next. The United States was eighth, Japan was ninth. Russia and India were 65th and 69th respectively. China ranked forty-eighth.
The Index discusses the efforts of many countries to establish ways of coping with the increases in the elderly population. Of special note are Latin American countries who are directly supporting older people through pension programs to enable them to remain active and self-sufficient.
HelpAge released the 2014 Index to coincide with the United Nations International Day of Older Persons and urged governments to move faster to extend planning and initiatives as the number of their elderly citizens grows.
