The WHO European Region has a rapidly ageing population. The median age is
already the highest in the world, and the proportion of people aged 65 and above is
forecast to almost double between 2010 and 2050. The average age of the
population and the proportion of people above retirement age are also projected to
increase fast, even in countries with life expectancies that are well below the
European average.
Allowing more people to lead active and healthy lives in later age requires investing
in a broad range of policies for healthy ageing, from prevention and control of
noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) over the life-course to strengthening health
systems, in order to increase older people’s access to affordable, high-quality health
and social services.
Investing in healthy ageing has become key for the sustainability of health and social
policies in Europe. A closing window of opportunity of relative growth of the labour
force along with unfavourable economic prospects in many countries in Europe have
made the need to step up the implementation of policies for active ageing
particularly urgent.