The International Day of Older Persons ceremony was held yesterday afternoon at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement in Nay Pyi Taw. Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Soe Win, who also chairs the Myanmar National Committee for Older Persons, attended the event together with deputy ministers, officials from Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon City Development Committees, departmental personnel, members of the National Committee for Older Persons, invitees and responsible persons.
The Union minister explained that due to new medical treatments, wider health knowledge, and improved healthcare services, life expectancy has risen worldwide, including in Myanmar, and the older population is gradually increasing. According to the 2024 Population and Housing Census, Myanmar’s estimated population of more than 51 million includes over 6.1 million aged 60 and above, accounting for around 12 per cent of the total population. By 2050, the number of people aged 60 and above is expected to reach about 13 million, around 20 per cent of the total. Myanmar’s birth rate has also fallen from 2.5 per cent in 2014 to 2.1 per cent in 2023. Although the under-five mortality rate has dropped from nearly four per cent in 2019 to three per cent in 2024, the mortality rate remains comparatively high against the declining birth rate.
He noted that as time passes, population replacement will become more difficult, and Myanmar may soon face an ageing society dominated by the elderly. The theme of the International Day of Older Persons 2025 is “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being and Our Rights”. He highlighted the government’s provision of tiered financial support for homes for the aged, assistance with elderly care technologies, and the implementation of social pension programmes nationwide. For the 2025-2026 financial year, a six-month social pension is being provided to 121,622 older persons aged 85 and above, with a total budget of over K7.217 billion disbursed through branches of Myanmar Economic Bank. To mark the occasion, the nation’s oldest man and woman will each receive an honorary award of K1 million.
Afterwards, a video record of elderly care and rights-related measures was shown, and the Union minister, deputy ministers and committee members presented consumer goods, medicines, and donations to older persons attending the event.
MNA/KZL
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