Ageing Kerala: Study warns elderly population to surge in coming decade
Kerala's aging population is rapidly increasing, with projections showing that nearly a quarter of the state's residents will be over 60 within the next decade.
Kerala's aging population is rapidly increasing, with projections showing that nearly a quarter of the state's residents will be over 60 within the next decade.
Kerala's aging population is rapidly increasing, with projections showing that nearly a quarter of the state's residents will be over 60 within the next decade.
New Delhi: Within ten years, one in every four people in Kerala will be aged above 60, according to a new study by the Sankala Foundation.
In a report presented at the national conference 'Ageing in India', the foundation estimated that older adults will make up 22.8 per cent of Kerala's total population within the next decade. The state already has the highest proportion of elderly residents in the country.
According to the 2011 Census, the percentage of people above 60 in Kerala stood at 12.6 per cent. By 2021, this figure rose to 16.5 per cent, and it continues to grow. Kerala also leads the nation in life expectancy rates.
A separate projection by the International Institute for Migration and Development suggests that by 2051, seniors will make up nearly 30 per cent of the state's population. At present, around 15 per cent of Kerala's population is aged over 60.
Health concerns among Kerala's elderly population are also significant. According to the Longitudinal Ageing Survey of India, 34.75 per cent of older adults in the state suffer from diabetes, while 53.24 per cent have hypertension. Among them, 19.68 per cent live with three or more chronic illnesses.
Meanwhile, at the national level, India's elderly population is expected to rise sharply. Within the next 25 years, the number of senior citizens is projected to reach 34.7 crore, eventually surpassing the population of children under the age of 10.