Africa’s best—and worst—countries to grow old inBy LEE MWITI

Wednesday, October 2   2013 at  15:38 

 

Mauritius is Africa’s best country to grow old in, a new survey shows.

The UN-backed Global AgeWatch Index 2013, released Tuesday, also ranked Tanzania as the most unfavourable country on the continent to be a senior citizen in.

The survey is the first of its kind to collate global data on the wellbeing of the elderly--defined as those above the age of 60.

However the index ranked only eight of Africa’s 54 countries, due to what it said was a lack of comparable data.

Mr Tilahun Abebe, 76, the vice-president of the Ethiopian Elderly and Pensioners National Association, says his old age has given him experience and 'a better understanding of society.
PHOTO | ERNA MENTESNOT HINTZ | HELP AGE INTERNATIONAL

"Given that by 2050 there will be 215 million older people –representing 10 per cent of the global population – the lack of data [on Africa] is a key concern," the researchers said.

The 91 countries surveyed, however, constituted 89 per cent of the world’s older population, the report noted.

The index also shows that the world is rapidly ageing, with a fifth of the population-- some two billion senior citizens--expected to be made up of the elderly by 2050.

This would outnumber those under the age of 15, and is attributed to better diets and sanitation, advances in medicine, greater prosperity and falling birth rates.

Currently, those aged 60 and above number 809 million; 11 per cent of the world’s population, the index, compiled by the HelpAge International advocacy group and the UN Population Fund, said.

The survey used four key indicators in the rankings; income security, education and employment, health status and an enabling environment. This new data would help bring in normally ‘invisible’ older people into public policy making, the researchers noted.

"[This report] broadens the way we understand the needs and opportunities of older people, going far beyond the adequacy of pensions and other income support which, though critical, often narrows policy thinking and debate about the needs of this age group," Prof Sir Richard Jolly of the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, said.

The researchers also said that following the rankings of the BRICS countries—which account for 25 per cent of world GDP—it was apparent that there was no correlation between a country’s economic growth and older people’s wellbeing.

A new landmark survey this week said that many Africans felt they were not benefiting from the rapid growth on the continent that has given rise to the 'Africa Rising' narrative.

SOURCE: UNDESA Population Division, Population Ageing and Development 2012

Mauritius’ top ranking is attributed to a long-standing commitment to social protection for its citizens, as well as older people’s positive perceptions on the quality of their life. The island nation was also recently ranked as Africa’s happiest country in another UN-sponsored report.

Tanzania in contrast was said to be experiencing generalised insecurity, widespread poverty, and rapid social and economic change, with older people working well into old age.

"Indeed, 73 per cent of older people remain economically active, with most engaged in small-scale agriculture," the researchers noted, but added that the country was looking to provide universal pension as a first step.

The survey notes that South Africa has since the end of apartheid had to reprioritise healthcare to benefit as many people as possible, leading to scenario where there now are only eight geriatric doctors for the country’s older population of four million.

In Nigeria, the survey notes that the provision of basic healthcare and pension is sorely missing, despite its considerable oil wealth, while Ghana conversely has strong health services such as the National Health Insurance Scheme introduced in 2000.

Sweden, Norway, Germany, Netherlands and Canada topped the overall rankings.

Africa Rankings (/100)
1-Mauritius 58.0, 2-South Africa 41.0, 3-Ghana 39.2, 4-Morocco 26.6, 5-Nigeria 24.0, 6-Malawi 17.8, 7-Rwanda 16.6, 8-Tanzania 4.6

Revelation

 

SOURCE: AFRICAN REVIEW