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Population Aging in India: Facts, Issues, and Options

Author

Listed:
  • Arunika Agarwal

    (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health)

  • Alyssa Lubet

    (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health)

  • Elizabeth Mitgang

    (Georgetown University Center on Medical Product Access, Safety, and Stewardship)

  • S.K. Mohanty

    (International Institute for Population Sciences)

  • David E. Bloom

    (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health)

Abstract

India, one of the world’s two population superpowers, is undergoing unprecedented demographic changes. Increasing longevity and falling fertility have resulted in a dramatic increase in the population of adults aged 60 and up, in both absolute and relative terms. This change presents wideranging and complex health, social, and economic challenges, both current and future, to which this diverse and heterogeneous country must rapidly adapt. This chapter first lays out the context, scope, and magnitude of India’s demographic changes. It then details the major challenges these shifts pose in the interconnected areas of health, especially the massive challenges of a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases; gender, particularly the needs and vulnerabilities of an increasingly female older adult population; and income security. This chapter also presents an overview of India’s recent and ongoing initiatives to adapt to population aging and provide support to older adults and their families. It concludes with policy recommendations that may serve as a productive next step forward, keeping in mind the need for urgent and timely action on the part of government, private companies, researchers, and general population. JEL Codes: J11; J14; N30

Suggested Citation

  • Arunika Agarwal & Alyssa Lubet & Elizabeth Mitgang & S.K. Mohanty & David E. Bloom, 2016. "Population Aging in India: Facts, Issues, and Options," PGDA Working Papers 13216, Program on the Global Demography of Aging.
    • Handle: RePEc:gdm:wpaper:13216
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yoshihiko Kadoya & Ting Yin, 2012. "Widow Discrimination and Family Care-Giving in India," ISER Discussion Paper 0858, Institute of Social and Economic Research, The University of Osaka.
    2. David Bloom & Perry Hu & P. Arokiasamy & Arun Risbud & T. V. Sekher & S. K. Mohanty & Varsha Kale & Jennifer O'Brien & Sandy Chien & Jinkook Lee, 2014. "Longitudinal Aging Study In India Biomarker Data Documentation," Working Papers WR-1043, RAND Corporation.
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    1. repec:plo:pone00:0222992 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Hu, Shu & Das, Dhiman, 2019. "Quality of life among older adults in China and India: Does productive engagement help?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 144-153.
    3. Suparna Saha & Sanghamitra Basu & Debapratim Pandit, 2022. "Identifying Factors Influencing Perceived Quality of Life (QoL) of Indian Elderly: Case Study of Kolkata, India," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 160(2), pages 867-907, April.
    4. Gaurab Das Mahapatra & Suguru Mori & Rie Nomura, 2023. "Reviewing the Universal Mobility of the Footpaths in the Centers of Historic Indian Cities through Field Survey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-21, May.
    5. Veena S. Kulkarni & Vani S. Kulkarni & Raghav Gaiha, 2018. "Aging, disability and disease in India," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series 302018, GDI, The University of Manchester.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • N30 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - General, International, or Comparative

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