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Opinion India has a growing older population. We must focus on productive ageing

Countries like Japan and many Western nations are actively promoting productive ageing by skilling and investing in their older populations. Reverence for the old is a societal norm in India, but imagining them as a resource can be rewarding

Rising longevity must also redefine what “elderly” means. The reverence for the old is a societal norm in India, but imagining them as a resource can be rewarding

October 1, 2025 01:48 PM IST First published on: Oct 1, 2025 at 01:48 PM IST

Written by Balhasan Ali and Udaya Shankar Mishra

India’s population is ageing faster than expected, given the synergy between low fertility and rising longevity. In the last few decades, life expectancy has doubled — from a fragile 36 years in 1951 to a resilient 72 years in 2023 — reshaping the nation’s demographic destiny. Only twice in this long arc of progress — during the food crisis of 1965 and the COVID-19 pandemic, life expectancy slipped. But it has made a quick turnaround. These shifts have reshaped the age structure of the population. Child dependency is steadily falling, the share of the elderly is rising, and the working-age pyramid is widening. The steady rise in life expectancy is the outcome of hard-won gains in healthcare, medical science, food security, and welfare.

According to the SRS 2023 report, 9.7 per cent of India’s population is now aged 60 and above, up from 8.6 per cent in 2011. So, one in 10 Indians is now elderly. Regional differences are striking. Southern states such as Kerala (15.1 per cent), Tamil Nadu (14 per cent), Karnataka (10.1 per cent), and Andhra Pradesh (10.6 per cent) report higher elderly shares, while Telangana (9.1 per cent) falls below the national average. Northern states like Himachal Pradesh (13.2 per cent), Jammu & Kashmir (11.1 per cent), and Punjab (11.6 per cent), along with Maharashtra (10.4 per cent) and Odisha (11.4 per cent), are also experiencing rapid ageing.

By contrast, Assam (7.6 per cent), Delhi (7.7 per cent), Jharkhand (7.7 per cent), Bihar (8 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (8.4 per cent), Haryana (8.5 per cent), and Madhya Pradesh (8.5 per cent) remain below the national average. These divergent demographic paths highlight the need for tailored policy approaches. Regions with younger populations require investment in education, skill development, and human capital to harness a demographic dividend, while states with larger elderly populations must focus on productive and active ageing, enabling seniors to contribute meaningfully to society and the economy.

Data from PLFS 2024 informs that 36 per cent of India’s elderly are employed — 51 per cent of men and 22 per cent of women — up from 29 per cent overall in 2017–18. The rise in female employment, from 10 per cent to 22 per cent sounds encouraging. States like Sikkim, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh report particularly high engagement. This work participation is largely in agriculture, often out of necessity, but their presence in secondary and tertiary sectors is quite low, with many exiting formal employment after 60. This raises a fundamental concern that relates to ensuring productive engagement beyond subsistence-level work.

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The UNFPA projects India’s elderly population share to reach 20 per cent by 2050. Currently, over 40 per cent of elderly Indians belong to the poorest wealth quintile, with nearly 19 per cent living without any income. Are we prepared to provide a dignified, healthy, and protected life for our seniors? The Government of India has frameworks such as the National Policy on Older Persons (1999), the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act (2007), the National Policy for Senior Citizens (2011), and programmes like the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly and Health and Wellness Centres under Ayushman Bharat. However, questions remain about reach and access, especially for the poorest elderly.

There is a need to rethink beyond protective measures and turn this challenge into an opportunity. Countries like Japan and many Western nations are actively promoting productive ageing by skilling and investing in their older populations. The challenge, therefore, is developing strategies to harness this dividend. Until now, the Indian population policy has focused on youth, children, and population control. Now, the time has come to have alternative strategies in place to make the ageing population productive.

Longevity today is not just about living longer; it is about living independently, actively, and meaningfully, contributing to families, communities, and the broader economy. The choices made today —investing in youth, skilling the elderly, strengthening social safety nets, and creating opportunities for productive ageing — will determine whether the ageing population becomes a dividend or a social and economic challenge.

Rising longevity must also redefine what “elderly” means. The reverence for the old is a societal norm in India, but imagining them as a resource can be rewarding. Considering them as sources of wisdom, guidance, and support within families and communities would define a future positive outlook on rising longevity.

Ali is an assistant professor at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad, and Mishra is professor at International Institute of Population Sciences, Mumbai. Views are personal