Armenia among aging countries

Armenia, like many countries, is facing the challenges of an aging population. Each year on October 1, the International Day of Older Persons highlights the opportunities and difficulties of aging societies, while urging families, communities and policymakers to address the needs of older adults.

The 2025 theme "Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being and Our Rights" highlights the transformative role older persons play in building resilient and equitable societies. Far from being passive beneficiaries, older persons are drivers of progress, contributing their knowledge and experience in areas such as health equity, financial well-being, community resilience and human rights advocacy.

According to the UN, the number of people aged 60 and over has more than doubled from 541 million in 1995 to 1.2 billion in 2025. By 2050, the figure is projected to reach 2.1 billion, with older adults outnumbering children under 18 by 2080. Women continue to make up the majority of the world’s elderly population due to their longer life expectancy.

Life expectancy globally has climbed to 73.5 years in 2025, nearly nine years longer than in 1995. The “oldest old”, those aged 80 and above, are the fastest-growing group, expected to reach 265 million by the mid-2030s.

In South Asia, Sri Lanka is the region’s fastest-aging country, with one in four citizens projected to be over 60 by 2041.

Armenia is also on this trajectory. Data from the national statistics committee show that as of 2024, older adults account for more than 10% of the population, exceeding the UN’s threshold for an “aging society”. The proportion of people aged 65 and over has steadily risen, creating greater demand for healthcare and social support, especially for conditions such as dementia, a leading cause of dependency among older adults.

Experts at YSMU Heratsi Research Center stress that while aging is a natural process, it does not always guarantee a healthy or independent life. As life expectancy rises, countries must adapt health systems and social care to better meet the needs of aging populations.