Switzerland ranked best place to grow older

- Age International warns of increasing global inequality in older people's wellbeing -

• The UK moves up one place to tenth
• Switzerland tops the Global AgeWatch Index; Afghanistan is at the bottom
• Inequality of life expectancy is increasing between countries
• 46 countries will be classed as ‘hyper-ageing' by 2050
• Charity calls for inequalities facing older people to be addressed within the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The third annual Global AgeWatch Index, which measures the quality of life of older people around the world, shows that the inequalities between the top and bottom ranking countries are increasing and that older women are particularly disadvantaged.

Globally, Switzerland tops the Index this year and last year's number one Norway moves into second place. The UK is ranked tenth, up one place from last year, whilst Afghanistan remains the worst country for an older person (96).

The UK performed well in the social environment category (third overall), but slipped from 11th to 14th in ‘income security.' The UK has seen the most progression in the ‘capability' domain for education status and employment levels, moving up three places from 23rd to 20th.

The Index, which ranks 96 countries, measures wellbeing in four key areas: income security; health; education and employment opportunities; and social connectedness. Unsurprisingly, countries whose governments have invested in population ageing and are planning for the future top the Index. These countries score highly in all four areas, have social pensions, accessible healthcare, flexible working as well as life-long learning and have created an enabling environment for all ages.

All regions as included in the Index are represented in the lowest quarter of the Index, with countries in Africa making up half of those with low income security rankings and poor health results. Greece (79), Venezuela (76) and Turkey (75) are in a similar position to sub-Saharan African and Asian countries.

Chris Roles, Director of Age International, said: 'The Global AgeWatch Index allows us to focus much-needed attention on the importance of responding to the rapidly growing numbers and proportion of older people in the world. It shows us which countries are preparing well for this unprecedented demographic change and demonstrates that when governments plan ahead and invest in their ageing populations, society as a whole benefits.'

Globally, the proportion of older people is growing. By 2050, 46 of the 96 countries in the Index will be classed as hyper-ageing, with 30 per cent or more of their populations aged 60 and over. However, comparative international data on basic indicators are only available for 96 countries; 98 countries could not be included due to a lack of data. Poverty rates in old age are missing from international data sets in at least 93 countries and in Africa, data were only available for 11 out of 54 countries.

'Millions of older people are invisible, living their lives in countries where information on the quality of older age and the experience of ageing is missing from international data sets,' said Chris.

'We need better national, regional and global data, broken down by age and gender, if we are to fully understand what is happening to people in later life in all parts of the world. Without this, older people, and especially older women, will continue to be marginalised in many parts of the world.'

This year, the Index shows that the gap in life expectancy at age 60 between countries at the top and bottom of the Index has widened from 5.7 years in 1990 to 7.3 years 2012. This inequality will grow without more focus on older people and better targeted policies.

Gender inequality in older age is also pronounced. The combination of a lifetime of gender discrimination, combined with inequality in old age can have a devastating effect on older women. Globally 46.8 per cent of women aged 55-64 are economically active, compared with 73.5 per cent of men[i]. In addition, women usually earn less than men, so opportunities to save for later life are limited, increasing their risk of poverty in old age.

Chris concludes: 'With the increasing number of older people and longer life-spans, the urgency for international planners to prepare for ageing populations is growing. Later this month, governments will be signing up to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), committing us to universal goals and targets until 2030. These goals provide an excellent opportunity for governments around the world to think ahead and make the commitments that will improve the economic and social wellbeing of those in later life.

'Ageing has started to be recognised in the SDGs with the commitment to ‘leave no-one behind'. The Global AgeWatch Index will be a useful tool for measuring the impact of the SDGs on the lives of older people but we need to fill the data gaps to complete the picture.'

The 17 goals and 169 targets of the SDGs will be adopted at the United Nations at the end of September. By the time they reach their fruition in 2030, the proportion of people aged 60 and over, globally, is predicted to rise to 16.5 per cent, up to three-quarters of whom will live in developing countries.

-ENDS-

Ref: KBJECRJVCA

Notes to Editors: RELEASE: STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 00.01am Wednesday 9 SEPTEMBER 2015

For more information or interview requests please contact Sara Guy sara.guy@ageinternational.org.uk, 020 3033 1466.

For information on the UK's position in the Global AgeWatch Index contact Liz Fairweather at Age UK, 0203 033 1718, liz.fairweather@ageuk.org.uk

1. Available for interview

Chris Roles, Director of Age International

Ken Bluestone, Age International Influencing and Advocacy Manager

Professor Asghar Zaidi, Centre for Research on Ageing, University of Southampton (academic consultant to the Index)

Regional experts on ageing and older people from around the world

2. Construction of the Index

The Index provides an overview of the quality of life experienced by older people in 96 countries. A dashboard of thirteen separate indicators has been put together under the four domains of income security, health, capability and enabling environment. Together this information measures the economic, social and political elements that interact to create a healthy environment for later life.

The Global AgeWatch Index has been created because of the overall lack of information on ageing combined with poor understanding of the effects of ageing on exclusion and marginalisation in services such as health care, education, training and pension provision.

3. Population ageing

The Index can be found here: http://ageinternational.org.uk/ageingindex

For further information about population ageing, see ‘Facing the facts: the truth about ageing and development' http://www.ageinternational.org.uk/olderworld

4. Stories

Age International can develop stories, provide case studies and organise media visits to undertake feature stories relating to the Index. Contact Sara Guy sara.guy@ageinternational.org.uk, 020 3033 1466.

5. Global Age Watch Index ranking table

Switzerland (1)

Norway (2)

Sweden (3)

Germany (4)

Canada (5)

Netherlands (6)

Iceland (7)

Japan (8)

United States (9)

United Kingdom (10)

Denmark (11)

New Zealand (12)

Austria (13)

Finland (14)

Ireland (15)

France (16)

Australia (17)

Israel (18)

Luxembourg (19)

Panama (20)

Chile (21)

Czech Republic (22)

Estonia (23)

Belgium (24)

Spain (25)

Slovenia (26)

Uruguay (27)

Costa Rica (28)

Georgia (29)

Cyprus (30)

Argentina (31)

Poland (32)

Mexico (33)

Thailand (34)

Latvia (35)

Columbia (36)

Italy (37)

Portugal (38)

Hungary (39)

Slovakia (40)

Vietnam (41)

Mauritius (42)

Armenia (43)

Ecuador (44)

Romania (45)

Sri Lanka (46)

Malta (47)

Peru (48)

Bulgaria (49)

Philippines (50)

Kyrgyzstan (51)

China (52)

Albania (53)

El Salvador (54)

Bolivia, Plurinational State of (55)

Brazil (56)

Nicaragua (57)

Tajikistan (58)

Guatemala (59)

Korea, Republic of (60)

Croatia (61)

Dominican Republic (62)

Lithuania (63)

Belarus (64)

Russian Federation (65)

Serbia (66)

Bangladesh (67)

Montenegro (68)

Paraguay (69)

Nepal (70)

India (71)

Mongolia (72)

Ukraine (73)

Indonesia (74)

Turkey (75)

Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of (76)

Moldova, Republic of (77)

South Africa (78)

Greece (79)

Cambodia (80)

Ghana (81)

Honduras (82)

Lao People's Democratic Republic (83)

Morocco (84)

Jordan (85)

Nigeria (86)

Iraq (87)

Uganda (88)

Rwanda (89)

Zambia (90)

Tanzania, United Republic of (91)

Pakistan (92)

West Bank & Gaza (93)

Mozambique (94)

Malawi (95)

Afghanistan (96)

About Age International

Age International is the only UK charity focusing on older people in developing countries. It is a subsidiary charity of Age UK, a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) and the UK member of the global HelpAge network.

Age International raises funds in the UK to support the relief and development work of HelpAge in over 40 developing countries. It also raises awareness in the UK about the needs of older people in developing countries. And it engages in influencing and campaigning work in the UK to change policies and approaches towards older people. For further information, please visit our website www.ageinternational.org.uk