Population ageing, the process by which elderly form a proportionately larger share of the
total population, was one of the most unique demographic events of the late 20th century.
Since the impact of population ageing on society’s socio-economic conditions may
be amplified by the speed at which it occurs, it is imperative to recognize not only the degree
but also the pace of the changes in the age structure. Sri Lankans are living longer,
mainly due to historical investments in human development, health and education,
which has resulted in a rapidly ageing population.
Factors contributing to the
ageing of the population in Sri Lanka
- Fertility decline has been the principal determinant of population ageing.
During the last half century, the total fertility rate decreased globally by
almost half, from 5.0 to 2.7 children per woman. During the next half century,
it is expected to decline to the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman.
Sri Lanka is not very different to this scenario, total fertility rate declined
from 5.54 in 1960 to 2.31 in 2010. Sri Lanka’s fertility transition began in
the 1960s and is still cruising through the third stage of the demographic transition.
- The decline in the mortality rate has been the other contributing factor to
an ageing population. Advances in the medical field and improved access
to health services have led to a sharp drop in infant mortality along with
maternal and adult mortality. Strong campaigns to control infectious diseases
such as malaria and tuberculosis, along with the successful control of
recurrent epidemics of smallpox, cholera and yellow fever, added positively
to improvements in the mortality rate as early as the 1920s. The mortality
rate fell sharply in Sri Lanka when public health programmes and campaigns
for sanitation were undertaken, particularly to eradicate malaria, which led to
an increase in life expectancy by 14 years between 1947 and 1954.
Characteristics
of Sri Lanka’s
Ageing Population
- Feminization of ageing: As women’s life
expectancy is greater than that of men, women
represent a majority of the older population.
- Studies show that 80% of the elderly
population lived in rural areas, compared with
13% in urban areas and 6% in the estate sector.
With the rapid ageing of the population in Sri Lanka
the country needs to understand its social and economic
implications and formulate short, medium and
long-term strategies to tackle the potential
challenges below.
These include:
What
needs
to be
done?
- Rising demand for medical services in old age and high medical costs could impose pressure on government and family budgets.
- An ageing population could lead to a drastic shift in the consumption and savings behaviour of people.
- Labour markets may also experience a shift in the supply of labour with implications for labour productivity.
- Ageing can also lead to the emergence of social welfare and gender-related issues. The combined effect of these changes could have an impact on economic growth and thereby the welfare of the people.
- The extent to which the family remains the primary source of care for older people, as it is the norm in Sri Lanka, will have important implications for formal arrangements for the care of older persons.
