The worst countries to grow old in
The global population is aging rapidly. Today, there are roughly 868 million people who are at least 60 years old globally, or about 12% of the world's population. By 2050, more than 2 billion people will be 60 or older, or 21% of the projected global population. In the United States, 27% of all Americans will be at least 60 years old.
HelpAge International's "Global AgeWatch 2014 Index" ranked the social and economic well-being of older residents in 96 countries. The report rated each country on four broad factors important to an aging population: supporting income security, fostering good health, employment and education, and the overall environment for older residents.. Norway was rated as the best country for older people to live in, bypassing Sweden, last year's top-rated country. Meanwhile, Afghanistan was rated the worst country for older people for the second consecutive year.
Generally, wealthy countries are better able to provide for their residents than poor countries. All but one of the top 10 countries had a GDP per capita of at least $30,000. At the other end of the spectrum, just one of the 10 worst-rated countries had a per capita GDP of more than $5,000.
However, Kate Bunting, CEO of HelpAge USA, told 24/7 Wall St. that being a wealthy nation alone is not enough for a country to rate well. "We focus on a multidimensional look at being older," Bunting said. The ability of older people to continue working and ensuring that they do not feel socially isolated are examples of important factors not necessarily captured by GDP, Bunting added. Despite the challenges of crafting policies to help an older population, "We feel that global aging is really a triumph of development."
Wide-ranging pension coverage is one factor that can help the elderly population of a country. In many of the 10 highest-rated countries, 100% of the population 65 and over receives a pension. According to HelpAge International, only half of the global population can expect to receive a pension of any kind in old age.
Providing for older residents' long-term health is also a critical factor in a country's ranking. In each of the top 10 countries to grow old in, a resident who is 60 years old can expect to live at least another 23 years, on average. However, in all of the worst countries to grow old in, the average life expectancy for a 60 year old resident is less than 20 years, with four of these nations reporting average life expectancies at 60 of just 16 years.
An aging global population creates new challenges — and opportunities — for policy makers. According to Bunting, "We can start thinking about this as an opportunity for us to think globally about the kinds of policies we need in place in order for people … to age comfortably."
Within the specific context of the United States, which ranked as the eighth best country to grow old in, improving access to health care is an important challenge. Additionally, while the U.S. has a strong social protection system, in the form of Social Security, "there are still challenges with that system," Bunting said. The poverty rate among the American elderly is also an issue of concern.
To identify the best and worst countries to grow old in, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed HelpAge International's 2014 Global AgeWatch Index of 96 countries. Each country was graded based on four measures: income security, health status, employment and education, and the overall environment for older residents. All data are for the most recent available period at the time the report was put together. We also reviewed figures from the IMF for population, inflation, debt, and other economic variables.
These are the worst countries to grow old in:
10. Iraq
> Total population: 35.9 million
> Pct. population aged 60+: 5.1% (43rd lowest)
> GDP per capita: $3,462 (57th lowest)
> Life expectancy at 60: 18 (tied-63rd lowest)
This year, Iraq is the 10th worst country to grow old. Only a few countries were worse at enabling older Iraqis to live free, safe, and satisfying lives. For example, less than a third of country residents over 50 were satisfied with the freedom of choice in their lives, the worst rate among countries reviewed. And just half felt safe walking alone at night. Like many countries where growing old is relatively difficult, Iraq provides no social pension. In addition to relatively low life expectancies for older residents, decades of war have likely hindered both the government and communities from supporting older Iraqis. Between Iraq's war with Iran in the 1980s, two military campaigns conducted by the United States, and the recent rise of extremist groups, the nation's economy and infrastructure have struggled to stabilize.
9. Zambia
> Total population: 15.0 million
> Pct. population aged 60+: 3.8% (9th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $1,419 (25th lowest)
> Life expectancy at 60: 17 (tied-36th lowest)
As might be expected in the worst countries to grow old, there are relatively few elderly residents in Zambia. Less than 4% of the country's population was over 60 years old as of 2014, among the lowest shares. Elderly Zambians struggled with high poverty rates, poor health, and lack of personal security. Nearly 23% of residents over 60 lived in poverty, one of the worst rates. Residents over 60 years old could expect only 12.2 years of relatively good health, among the lower healthy life expectancies worldwide. Just over a third of Zambian residents over 50 felt safe walking home at night, also among the lowest proportions.
8. Uganda
> Total population: 38.0 million
> Pct. population aged 60+: 3.7% (4th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $1,165 (19th lowest)
> Life expectancy at 60: 16 (tied-11th lowest)
Like several of the worst countries to grow old, Uganda had an exceptionally high employment rate among older Ugandans. Nearly 89% of Ugandans between 55 and 64 were employed, more than in all but a handful of other countries. While jobs seem to be readily available, many elderly Uganda residents were poorly educated and under considerable financial strain. Less than 7% of people over 60 had at least a secondary education, one of the lower rates. And nearly 21% of residents at least 60 years old lived in poverty, among the world's higher rates. Uganda's GDP per capita of less than $1,200 was one of the lowest among all countries reviewed.
7. Jordan
> Total population: 6.7 million
> Pct. population aged 60+: 5.4% (51st lowest)
> GDP per capita: $5,267 (75th lowest)
> Life expectancy at 60: 19 (tied-82nd lowest)
Most older Jordanians either have strong family ties or find financial help from the government. Seventy-two percent of people over 50 said they could rely on at least one person if they were in trouble. And more than 42% of 65 and older residents received a pension, one of the better rates compared to other countries on this list. Despite these strengths, the vast majority of Jordan's older population was financially dependent on others. Just 22.1% of 55-64 year-olds were employed, lower than in most countries. Also, just 21% of the population over 60 had at least a secondary education, far worse than in many nations. Overall, Jordan received one of the worst scores for enabling residents to live capably on their own.
6. Pakistan
> Total population: 186.3 million
> Pct. population aged 60+: 6.5% (66th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $2,348 (45th lowest)
> Life expectancy at 60: 17 (tied-36th lowest)
Like several of the worst countries to grow old, Pakistan is part of a politically unstable region. In addition, the capital has been the site of ongoing protests in recent years, and the country struggles to control regular flooding disasters. Despite the turmoil, older Pakistanis enjoy one of the lowest poverty rates in the world, with just 1.8% of residents over 60 living in poverty. Many older Pakistani residents do not feel socially connected, however, as just 60% of people over 50 said they someone they could count on when in trouble. And a minority of majority of older residents did not feel independent or satisfied with their freedom of choice.
5. The United Republic of Tanzania
> Total population: 47.7 million
> Pct. population aged 60+: 4.9% (36th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $1,331 (24th lowest)
> Life expectancy at 60: 18 (tied-63th lowest)
While nearly 93% of 55-64 year old Tanzanian residents were employed — the second highest rate worldwide– many of these jobs were likely low-skilled. Just 3.1% of country residents over 60 had completed at least a secondary education, one of the lowest attainment rates in the world. Further, less than 40% of residents over 50 were satisfied with the country's public transportation options, worse than in the vast majority of nations worldwides. Like many countries in the region, Tanzania is quite poor, with a GDP per capita of just $1,331, one of the lowest in the world. Despite poor economic output, Tanzania has managed to avoid violent internal turmoil that is often common in African and Middle-Eastern nations.
4. Malawi
> Total population: 17.6 million
> Pct. population aged 60+: 4.9% (35th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $667 (6th lowest)
> Life expectancy at 60: 16 (tied-11th lowest)
Malawi is exceptionally poor, with an economic output of just $667 per capita. The U.S., by contrast had a GDP of nearly $45,000 per capita. Nearly all of Malawi's 55-64 year old population worked, with an employment rate of 96.6%, by far the highest among countries reviewed. Yet, like in several other nations in the region, elderly residents are poorly educated. Just 4.5% of people over 60 had completed at least a secondary education, much less than in most countries. While the high employment rate may help some older residents feel independent, less than half of people over 50 said they had someone they could count on when in trouble, one of the worst measures of social connectivity. Nearly 18% of Malawi residents over 60 also lived in poverty, one of the higher rates worldwide.
3. West Bank and Gaza
> Total population: N/A
> Pct. population aged 60+: 4.6% (28th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $2,465 (48th lowest)
> Life expectancy at 60: 18 (tied-63rd lowest)
The West Bank and Gaza, separated by miles of Israeli territory, are nearly the worst regions in which to grow old. Palestinians and Israelis have been in a nearly continuous conflict, and tensions may worsen as Hamas recently renewed its political presence in the West Bank. While nearly three-quarters of people over 50 felt safe walking home and approved of the public transport system — both among the higher rates reviewed — just 30% of residents aged 55 to 64 had a job, nearly the lowest rate. Poor employment and political turmoil may have also contributed to only 41% of Palestinians over 50 feeling freedom in their lives, one of the lower rates among countries reviewed.
2. Mozambique
> Total population: 26.5 million
> Pct. population aged 60+: 5.1% (40th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $842 (8th lowest)
> Life expectancy at 60: 16 (tied-11th lowest)
Located on the Indian Ocean in southeastern Africa, Mozambique has struggled with a long history of colonialism and civil war. While the country has stabilized considerably since its independence in 1992, Mozambique is still quite poor. The nation's GDP per capita was just $842 last year, among the lowest economic outputs worldwide. The country's weak economy is likely having some effect on the well-being of elderly residents, as nearly 20% of people over 60 lived in poverty, considerably higher than in most other countries. Less than a third of Mozambique residents over 50-years old felt safe walking home at night, nearly the worst rate.
1. Afghanistan
> Total population: 31.3 million
> Pct. population aged 60+: 3.9% (11th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $1,225 (8th lowest)
> Life expectancy at 60: 16 (tied-11th lowest)
Afghanistan is the worst country for the elderly. At 60 years old, Afghan residents could expect only 9.2 years of good health — one of the only nations in the world where healthy life expectancy at 60 was less than a decade. While older Afghans were more likely to work than older residents in other countries, people over 60 were very poorly educated. Just 5.2% had completed at least a secondary education, among the lowest rates worldwide. While the U.S. and its allies have considerably reduced its military presence in the country, Afghanistan has been the site of conflict for decades. The withdrawal of the U.S. from the country could also further imperil the nation's political and economic stability.
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