Abstract
Worldwide, the number of persons aged 60 and over has been increasing at an unparalleled rate. Africa, like other parts of the world, is undergoing rapid demographic changes, and, while the population is largely youthful, the proportion of older persons has increased tremendously over the past few decades. This chapter discusses the context of population ageing in Africa and its demographic determinants. In Africa, there are more women aged 60 years and over than men in the population. However, at older ages a far greater percentage of men are married than women. Labour force participation of those aged 60 years and over remains high, but men tend to dominate the elderly workforce. In terms of geographical distribution, the older population are evenly dispersed between rural and urban areas. Life expectancy will increase in all regions of the continent. However, the fastest growth of the ageing population will occur in Northern Africa, followed by Southern Africa. The ageing population of Africa will grow at an accelerated rate over the next few decades, and the inevitability of these demographic trends call for prompt and applicable policy-making and development initiatives.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Apt, N. (2000). Rapid urbanization and living arrangements of older persons in Africa. New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Cohen, B., & Menken, J. (2006). Ageing in Sub-Saharan Africa: Recommendations for Furthering Research. Washington DC: The National Academies Press.
Economic Commission for Africa. (2007). United Nations Economic and Social Council. Africa review report on agriculture and rural development. Fifth meeting of the Africa Committee on Sustainable Development (ACSD-5). Addis Ababa.
European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research. (2008). Features and challenges of population ageing: The European perspective. Vienna: European Centre.
Gelb, A. (2001). Gender and growth: Africa’s missed potential. Development Outreach 3, 2.
Gündel, S. (2006). A synthesis of urban and peri-urban agricultural research commissioned by the RNRRS programme. Renewable natural resources research strategy. Edinburgh: RNRRS.
HelpAge International. (2008). Mind the gap: HIV and AIDS and older people in Africa. London: HelpAge International.
Kakwani, N., & Subbarao, K. (2005). Aging and poverty in Africa and the role of social pensions. International Poverty Centre, Working Paper No. 8. New York: United Nations Development Programme.
Kalasa, B. (2004). Population ageing in Africa: A Policy Dilemma. Addis Ababa: UNFPA.
Kinsella, K., & Wan, H. (2009). An ageing World: 2008. Washington DC: US Census Bureau.
Knodel, J., & Ofstedal, M. B. (2003). Gender and ageing in the developing World: where are the men? Population and Development Review, 29(4), 677–698.
Lam, D., Leibbrandt, M., & Ranchhod, V. (2006). Labor force withdrawal of the elderly in South Africa. In B. Cohen & J. Menken (Eds.), Ageing in Sub-Saharan Africa: Recommendations for furthering research. Washington DC: The National Academies Press.
Lesthaeghe, R. (2000). Europe’s demographic issues: Fertility, household formation and replacement migration (United Nations Expert Group meeting on policy responses to population ageing and population decline). New York: United Nations.
Lloyd-Sherlock, P. (2000). Population ageing in developed and developing regions: implications for health policy. Social Science and Medicine, 51, 887–895.
Population Reference Bureau. (2010). World population highlights: key findings from PRB’s 2010 World population data sheet. Population Bulletin, 65(2), 1–12.
Robinson, M. (2007). Global health and global ageing. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Rwezaura, B. A. (1989). Changing community obligations to the elderly in contemporary Africa. Journal of Social Development in Africa, 4(1), 5–24.
UNDP. (2005). The diversity of changing population age structures in the World. Argentina: Paulo Saad.
UNDP. (2010). Human Development Report 2010. The real wealth of nations: Pathways to development. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
UNFPA. (2008a). Population ageing and development: Social, health and gender issues (Population and development strategies). New York: United Nations Population Fund.
UNFPA. (2008b). 2008 Revision of World population prospects. New York: United Nations Population Fund.
United Nations. (2001). World population ageing: 1950–2050. New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
United Nations. (2004). World population prospects: The 2004 revision. New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
United Nations. (2007). World population prospects: The 2006 revision. New York: Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
United Nations. (2008a). World population prospects: The 2008 revision. Vol. I: Comprehensive tables, United Nations Publication: ST/ESA/SER.A/287. New York: United Nations.
United Nations. (2008b). World population prospects: The 2008 revision. Vol. II: Sex and age distribution of populations. United Nations Publication: ST/ESA/SER.A/291. New York: United Nations.
United Nations. (2008c). World population prospects: The 2008 revision. Vol. III: Living arrangements of older persons around the World. United Nations Publication: ST/ESA/SER.A/240. New York: United Nations.
United Nations. (2009). World population ageing 2009. New York: Department of Economic and Social Affairs: Population Division, United Nations Publication.
United Nations. (2010). Current status of the social situation, well-being, participation in development and rights of older people worldwide. New York: Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights.
United Nations. (2011). World population prospects: The 2010 revision. New York: Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division.
Van Dulleman, C. (2006). Older people in Africa: new engines to society? Feminist Formations, 18(1), 99–105.
Velkoff, V. A., & Kowal, P. R. (2007). Population ageing in Sub-Saharan Africa: Demographic dimensions 2006: International population reports. U.S. Census Bureau, Current population reports, P95/07-1. Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Waite, L. J. (1995). Does marriage matter? Demography, 32(4), 483–507.
WHO. (2000). Information needs for research, policy and action on ageing and older adults. Bethesda, MD: U.S. National Institute on Ageing.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Pillay, N.K., Maharaj, P. (2013). Population Ageing in Africa. In: Maharaj, P. (eds) Aging and Health in Africa. International Perspectives on Aging, vol 4. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8357-2_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8357-2_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-8356-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-8357-2
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawSocial Sciences (R0)