The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) says the elderly population has increased nearly by ten over the past six decades, increasing from over 200,000 (213,477) in 1960 to over 2 million (1,991,736) in 2021.
Contained in a statement to mark the International Day of Older Persons, which is celebrated every year on Saturday, October 1st.
GSS in its findings reveals that the elderly population, thus 60 years and above, comprises 861,830 (43.3%) males and 1,129,906
(56.7%) females.
According to the report, 62,480 of the 341,960 elderly people who live alone are 80 years of age or older.
The findings also revealed that, compared to the general population as a whole (29.9%), one in four elderly people (25.7%) experience multidimensional poverty.
“The incidence of multidimensional poverty among the elderly ranges from 8.8% in the Greater Accra Region to 53.0% in the Savannah Region. A little over a third (37.5%) of the elderly population is employed – five in every 10 (50.0%) for the age group 60 to 69 years, about three in every 10 (28.6%) for the age group 70 to 79 years, and one in every 10 (10.7%) for the age group 80 years and older. “
Nine out of every 10 (90.1%) employed elderly persons are working in the private informal sector, with eight out of every ten (80.0%) being self-employed without employees.
Nationally, 395,693 older persons, representing over half (53.2%) of the employed elderly population, are in vulnerable employment.”
GSS requested an evaluation of Ghana’s capacity to protect the welfare of the nation’s rapidly ageing population.
Source: The Independent Ghana