India’s Quiet Transition

India’s ageing population brings challenges and opportunities, demanding dignity, support, and a stronger intergenerational balance

- YOSHIKO MIYATA ISHIOKA THE WRITER ISA PROFESSOR AT JINDAL SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES, OP JINDAL GLOBAL UNIVERSITY

India has long been seen as a “young country,” but a profound demographic shift is underway. With rising life expectancy and declining fertility, India is entering an era of rapid population ageing. ‘The pace of this transition could shape the future of communities and families.

A Rapid Rise

Between 2000 and 2022, India’s total population grew by about 34 per cent. During the same period, the number of people aged 60 and above more than doubled, increasing by 103 per cent. By 2022, India already had about 149 million older people, roughly 10.5 per cent of its population (India Ageing Report 2023). According to United Nations estimates, the older population is projected to reach around 347 million by 2050, making up 20.8 per cent of India’s total population. Within 25 years, the ageing population rate will double.

Yet India’s demographic profile is different from other ageing or aged societies. The country still has a wide base of younger generations, offering a potential demographic advantage.

Living Arrangements and Family Change

For generations, Indian families have largely followed joint household patterns. According to the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI 2017-18), only 3.4 per cent of older Indians (60+) live alone, while nearly 77 per cent live with their children, either with a spouse or with other relatives. Around 16 per cent live with a spouse only or with others but without children. These figures underline how central the role of children remains in supporting older parents.