Читать книгу Health Promotion Programs - (SOPHE) Society for Public Health Education - Страница 49

The pace of population aging is much faster than in the past. Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s population over 60 years will nearly double from 12 percent to 22 percent. Currently, the number of people aged 60 years and older is outnumbering children younger than five years. All countries face major challenges to ensure that their health and social systems are ready to make the most of this demographic shift. According to the World Health Organization, by 2050, the world’s population aged 60 years and older is expected to total 2 billion, up from 900 million in 2015 (World Health Organization, 2018). Health generally deteriorates with age, but there is significant variation across people, regions, and countries.

Life expectancy at birth compares the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year, if mortality at each age remains constant in the future. Life expectancy at birth is also a measure of overall quality of life in a country and summarizes the mortality at all ages. Increased life expectancy constitutes a considerable public health accomplishment, and for the first time in history, most people can expect today to live into their sixties and beyond. Living longer brings exciting opportunities not only for those who enjoy aging, but also for our society as a whole. Extended years of productive and active life mean additional contributions to family and community. However, these extended benefits greatly rely on two key factors: health and quality of life.