John R. Wilmoth
John R. Wilmoth, Director of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Population Division at the United Nations, discusses the role of DESA’s Population Division and the recent “World Social Report 2023: Leaving No One Behind in an Ageing World.”
Some of the findings indicate that people are living longer, for example the approximately 760 million people today above-65 will double by 2050, and the above-80 population will triple by 2050. This “demographic transition” shows a shift to longer lives, fewer births and smaller families. Spectacular improvements in health, survival and reductions in fertility have driven this momentous shift. The Covid-19 pandemic was detrimental in several ways, especially since life expectancy for the world dropped a precipitous 1.8 years. A major challenge is the lack of social protections systems that do not exist or are very limited in many countries. Population aging has been a remarkable success because life expectancies have increased, yet population growth is slowing.
