Africa faces Aging Population Challenges

According to a new report from the African Development Bank, Africa’s population is ageing, just like in the rest of the world, but the continent’s governments are not equipped to handle the growing number of older people. The percentage of people aged over 65 in Africa has grown to 3.6 percent in 2010 from 3.3 percent in 2000. And it is a long-term phenomenon. There has been a steady increase over the last 40 years, and it will accelerate in coming years. The elderly could account for 4.5 percent of the continent’s population by 2030, and almost 10 percent by 2050. In some countries, the proportion of older people will almost match that of industrialised countries by 2030 and 2050.