Graceful Ageing

How small lifestyle changes make a big difference.

- Dr. Harender Raj Gautam

Human lifespan has increased appreciably over the last century due to improved living conditions and continuous advances in medical science. Globally, life expectancy at birth reached 73.3 years in 2024—an increase of 8.4 years since 1995. In India, the average life expectancy rose to 72 years in 2023.

Higher life expectancy has substantially increased the population of elderly people. According to United Nations population projections, the worldwide population of people aged 65 and above has almost doubled in the last 50 years—from 5.5 per cent to 10.3 per cent.

This growing elderly population has also raised India's old-age dependency ratio. As per the National Statistical Office, it was 10.4 per cent in 2024, meaning that for every 100 people in the working-age population (15-64), there are roughly 10.4 people aged 65 and above.

Ageing is a sobering truth for every human being. It involves progressive physiological and cognitive deterioration, which increases disease risk and negatively affects quality of life and autonomy. This brings into focus the need for and concept of healthy ageing—creating environments and opportunities that enable people to continue doing what they value throughout their lives.