Over the past decade, South-East Asia has witnessed a notable increase in the expectation of life at birth, from 56 to 67 years, and a remarkable decline in fertility, from 4 children per woman to 2.4. Those demographic dynamics have brought about profound challenges to the region with major social, economic and societal implications. One of the most important emerging policy challenges is to provide social protection, particularly, income security for older persons. In preparing for population ageing, there is a pressing need to expand the coverage of pension systems among both formal and informal sector workers. While recognizing that the best preparation for old age is a productive working life, government policies in the region should be strengthened considerably to promote productive employment, with provision for health care and health insurance.

In Asia, although the family systems continue to provide support and care for their older members, they may not be sustainable owing to the increasing rural-to-urban and international migration of young adults. Population ageing is also a gender issue, as women constantly outnumber men in older ages. Many women are less equipped for old age because they are less educated and less likely to be in a productive employment.

Hence, promoting productive employment, ensuring income security and mainstreaming gender concerns are three essential steps that governments should urgently take to adequately prepare for the rapid population ageing.

In order to address the growing concerns of population ageing, the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing adopted by the United Nations Second World Assembly on Ageing held in 2008 identified three priority areas: older persons and development; advancing health and well-being into old age; and ensuring enabling and supportive environments. The Shanghai Regional Implementation Plan on Ageing endorsed by countries in Asia and the Pacific in 2008 has taken into consideration the regional context and priorities in ensuring that the ageing of populations will provide not only challenges but also opportunities for societies to come up with policies and activities that care for and benefit their members of all ages. The ESCAP secretariat continues to play a key role in facilitating this regional process.