National Experts Discuss Strategies to Manage Rapidly Ageing Societies, Optimize Youth Populations, as Commission Continues Annual Session

As demographics shift around the world, some countries are learning how to manage rapidly ageing societies, while others are exploring the best ways to optimize their youth populations, the Commission on Population and Development heard today.

Continuing its fifty-ninth session, which runs from 13 to 17 April, the Commission held a panel discussion on the UN's programme of work in population. The aim of this programme is to improve knowledge of global population trends and advance an evidence-based understanding of interactions between population change and sustainable development.

The panel brought together national experts and was moderated by John Wilmoth, Director of the Population Division at the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, who asked panellists how demographic factors shape their national planning and what kind of support they need. The Division "is here in listening mode", he said.

Investing in Youth Livelihood Programmes, Prevention of Early Marriage in Africa

"The median age of Uganda is 18 and that of Africa is 19," Hamis Mugendawala, Senior Manager for Population and Social Development Planning at the National Planning Authority of Uganda, said. "Half our population are children" who do not effectively participate in the economy and require social services, he pointed out. While a youthful population guarantees future labour, the rate at which they transition into working ages does not keep pace with the rate of job creation - this creates youth unemployment. These trends have "shifted how Africa is planning", he said, noting the continent's investments in youth livelihood programmes and legislation to prevent early marriages.

While Africa has a very high population growth rate, his country's population is growing even faster than the continental average. Over the past 50 years, it has sustained a growth rate of around 3 per cent per year and "that means, Uganda's population doubles every 23 years", he observed. This momentum has been partly built by a high - although declining - fertility rate, which in turn is sustained by early child-bearing. This has significant negative ramifications for girls' education, maternal health and the economy. He added: "We have the youngest grandmother in the world at 27 years" - she conceived at 13 and her daughter also conceived at 13, making her a grandparent at 26.

Uganda benefits greatly from the Population Division's work, he said, recalling the support it provided during the country's 2024 census, from establishing the methodological framework to digitization. He also welcomed the Division's capacity-building efforts that have supported Uganda's Bureau of Statistics to generate evidence-based projections. He called for more investment in administrative data systems so that the country can supplement the periodical data provided by censuses and surveys.

Adapting to Fast-Ageing Population, Increasing Life Expectancy in Poland

From the other end of the national age spectrum, Agnieszka Chłoń-Domińczak, President of the Government Population Council of Poland, said her country has a fast-ageing population, with one of the fastest ageing rates on Europe. This is due to very low fertility levels, which in turn is related to reproductive health and availability of support to those who want children, among other factors, she said. Poland is placing this demographic shift at the heart of its planning, including by enacting policies that encourage people to have children.

Planning is also adapting to the country's increasing life expectancy - a good development, but it means increasing eldercare demands, from pensions to long-term healthcare. As the labour force declines, it is becoming necessary to extend working lives and use potential migration flows to support the labour market.

She also highlighted regional disparities. Internal migration means many people are ageing alone. Local governments have to find ways to develop inclusive policies to integrate older adults who are on their own. Especially in light of mega-trends such as climate change and technological progress, it is crucial to ensure "intergenerational fairness", she said.

Her Council is an advisory body to Poland's Prime Minister and offers policy recommendations related to these demographic changes. The Population Division's work on world population prospects is a crucial reference point because it provides a national to international comparison. Its data on migration is also helpful for Poland as it seeks to transforms itself from an out-migration to an in-migration country. While the Division's analytical work has been historically aligned towards developing countries and the global picture, a growing group of countries, including Eastern European countries, face very low fertility conditions, and it would be helpful to have products focused on those, she said.

Forward-looking Responses to Ensure Intergenerational Equity in Indonesia

Mr. Maliki, Deputy Minister for Community Empowerment, Population and Manpower, Ministry of National Development Planning of Indonesia, also highlighted the importance of catering to an ageing population. Since 2021, his country's population has been ageing, and in 10 years, "Indonesia will become an aged society", he reported. This will have significant implications for its healthcare and social protection systems. While his country is optimizing its current demographic dividend through investments in job creation and human capital development, it will need forward-looking responses to ensure intergenerational equity.

Highlighting regional disparities within his country, he said that rapid urbanization has created opportunities and pressures. These population dynamics have shaped Indonesia's long-term and medium-term development frameworks. The country is prioritizing education, housing and nutrition for pregnant women and children. The national strategy on ageing provides practical guidance, and the planning agency is formulating population policies that can guide Indonesia to achieve its aspiration of becoming one of the world's five largest economies.

Indonesia has made extensive use of the Population Division's data, he said, noting that its population predictions and structural analysis have been helpful in identifying his country's priorities for human capital development and preparation for an ageing population. One area where the country can use further support is enhancing the granularity and policy relevance of data for addressing regional disparities and generational equality.

Stronger Governance, Digital Health Systems Key to Supporting Most Vulnerable Populations in Haiti

Heath Marc Henry Pierre-François, Director of the Population and Human Development Department of Haiti, an obstetrician-gynaecologist by training, noted that he is also the country's head of family planning and maternal health. In Haiti, as in other Latin American and Caribbean countries, maternal, neonatal and adolescent health is linked with social structures. Neonatal and maternal mortality remains a huge challenge due to infection and lack of access to care. There are also clear gaps in availability of social services and qualified persons.

Early pregnancy remains high, he said, noting that this is closely clinked to insufficient access to family planning and sex education. Gender-based violence, especially in insecure contexts, is a huge threat to public health, he added. Further, Haiti is in a vulnerable context from the humanitarian standpoint. This is also affecting the quality of services, he said, adding that his Ministry is working hard to maintain services for the most vulnerable people.

The solutions are well-known, he said, outlining the need to strengthen governance, digitalize health systems, develop a system of national schools and deploy a strategy for obstetric and neonatal care. Stressing the need for results-based predictable financing, he said that without accelerating investment, "we risk losing the gains already won".

The last census in his country was carried out in 2003. So the Government has to rely on data and statistics from other sources. The Population Division's data has been crucial for planning policies in maternal and youth health, he said, adding that they helped with the creation of a national family planning strategy and with the adaptation of health services to demographic changes. It would be useful to have more up-to-date disaggregated data, he said, adding that given the precarious conditions in his country, data that reflects local realities could support targeted interventions.