Ageing in the Western Pacific

Ageing in the Western Pacific

While countries around the world are ageing, the Western Pacific Region in particular has one of the largest and fastest growing older populations, already hosting over a third of the world’s population aged 65 and above.

 

Building on findings from the Economics of Healthy and Active Ageing series, the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, in collaboration with the WHO Centre for Health Development (WHO Kobe Centre) and the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, carried out a series of analyses on population ageing for the Western Pacific Region, covering a diverse mix of nations– Australia, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and Viet Nam.

The reports explore: 

  • how promoting health and reducing disability of older working-age people can benefit the economy;
  • how changes in the population age structure will affect future health expenditure patterns.

Overall, the reports indicate that population ageing will not spell catastrophe for countries in the Region and that there are many opportunities if people age in good health.

A comparative regional synthesis report including policy options is forthcoming and will soon be available here.


Related publications

The implications of population ageing for health financing in the Western Pacific Region: Exploring future scenarios and policy options for selected countries using the PASH Simulator

All countries in the Western Pacific Region will experience profound changes in their age demographics due to rising life expectancy and falling birth...

Promoting healthy ageing in the Western Pacific Region: implications for health expenditure trends and economic growth

In this report we explore how population ageing may affect public health spending and economic growth in the World Health Organization (WHO) Western...

How will population ageing affect health expenditure trends in Japan and what are the implications if people age in good health?

Population ageing presents economic, fiscal and societal challenges for countries around the world. Some of the predicted consequences of population ageing...

How will population ageing affect health expenditure trends in Viet Nam and what are the implications if people age in good health?

Population ageing presents economic, fiscal and societal challenges for countries around the world. Some of the predicted consequences of population ageing...

How does healthy ageing affect economic growth in the Republic of Korea?

Population ageing presents economic, fiscal and societal challenges for countries around the world. Some of the predicted consequences of population ageing...

How will population ageing affect health expenditure trends in Australia and what are the implications if people age in good health?

Population ageing presents economic, fiscal and societal challenges for countries around the world. Some of the predicted consequences of population ageing...

How will population ageing affect health expenditure trends in New Zealand and what are the implications if people age in good health?

Population ageing presents economic, fiscal and societal challenges for countries around the world. Some of the predicted consequences of population ageing...

How will population ageing affect health expenditure trends in the Republic of Korea and what are the implications if people age in good health?

Population ageing presents economic, fiscal and societal challenges for countries around the world. Some of the predicted consequences of population ageing...

How does healthy ageing affect economic growth in Viet Nam?

Population ageing presents economic, fiscal and societal challenges for countries around the world. Some of the predicted consequences of population ageing...

How will population ageing affect health expenditure trends in Mongolia and what are the implications if people age in good health?

Population ageing presents economic, fiscal and societal challenges for countries around the world. Some of the predicted consequences of population ageing...

How does healthy ageing affect economic growth in Mongolia?

Population ageing presents economic, fiscal and societal challenges for countries around the world. Some of the predicted consequences of population ageing...

How does healthy ageing affect economic growth in Australia?

Population ageing presents economic, fiscal and societal challenges for countries around the world. Some of the predicted consequences of population ageing...

How does healthy ageing affect economic growth in New Zealand?

Population ageing presents economic, fiscal and societal challenges for countries around the world. Some of the predicted consequences of population ageing...

How does healthy ageing affect economic growth in Japan?

Population ageing presents economic, fiscal and societal challenges for countries around the world. Some of the predicted consequences of population ageing...

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