THE ADMINISTRATION ON AGING 

The Administration on Aging (AoA), part of the 

Administration for Community Living (ACL), 

an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services, is one of the nation's largest 

providers of home- and community-based care 

for older persons and their caregivers. Our 

mission is to promote the dignity and 

independence of older people, and to help 

society prepare for an aging population.

GLOBAL AGING 

Global aging is a success story. People today 

are living longer and generally healthier lives. 

This represents the triumph of public health, 

medical advancement, and economic 

development over disease and injury, which 

have constrained human life expectancy for 

thousands of years.

The world’s population is now aging at an 

unprecedented rate. The United Nations 

estimates that by 2050, more than 20 percent of 

the world’s population will be 60 years old or 

older. Eighty per cent of this population will 

live in developing countries. By 2050, older 

persons will outnumber children (persons aged 

0 to 14 years).

Globally, the population aged 80 years or over 

is growing faster than any younger age group 

within the older population. The population of 

centenarians, those aged 100 years or more, is 

growing fastest.

Population aging will affect every man, woman 

and child anywhere in the world. The steady 

increase of older age groups will have a direct 

bearing on relationships within families, equity 

across generations, lifestyles, and the family 

solidarity that is the foundation of society.

GLOBAL POPULATION 60+ IN MILLIONS

AOA’S GLOBAL ACTIVITIES

As the federal focal point for older Americans 

and their caregivers, AoA plays a vital role in 

information exchange with other nations 

concerning aging issues. AoA collaborates with 

foreign governments, international 

governmental (United Nations) and nongovernmental organizations to enhance aging 

programs and policies worldwide. We respond 

to requests for information from international 

organizations, foreign governments, and nonprofit agencies. We host international scholars, 

government officials and practitioners who 

come to the United States to learn first-hand 

about America’s response to population aging.

AOA AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 

MADRID INTERNATIONAL PLAN OF 

ACTION ON AGEING 

On April 12, 2002, the World Assembly on 

Ageing adopted the Madrid International Plan 

of Action on Ageing 2002 (MIPAA). The 

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

1950 2012 2050

60+

Challenges of Global Aging 
MIPAA seeks to ensure that people everywhere 

age with security and dignity, and continue to 

participate in their societies as citizens with full 

rights. The top priorities include involving older 

persons in the development process; advancing 

health and well being into old age; and ensuring 

supportive environments that enable older 

persons to have choices. 

Core themes include the recognition of the 

needs of older women; the desire of older 

people to stay active and engaged; and the need 

to create intergenerational solidarity. These 

themes demonstrate how the international 

community shares a common vision of a better 

future for older persons.

The Assistant Secretary for Aging led the U.S. 

delegation to the Second World Assembly on 

Ageing and affirmed the U.S. commitment to 

these themes. Working in concert with other 

nations and international bodies, AoA continues 

to play a key role in implementing the MIPAA. 

AGING WITH DISABILITIES

The first ever World Report on Disability, 

produced by the WHO and the World Bank, 

suggests that more than a billion people in the 

world today experience disability. The 

likelihood that people age with disabilities or 

become disabled increases as they age. Whether 

through intellectual or developmental 

disabilities, chronic illness, declining vision, 

decreased physical fitness and flexibility, aging 

is a factor.

 

The Administration for Intellectual and 

Developmental Disabilities (AIDD/ACL) 

supports international disability programs 

through its University Centers for Excellence in 

Developmental Disabilities Education, 

Research, and Service.

SOURCES

Ageing in the Twenty-first Century: A 

Celebration and a Challenge

UN Department of Public Affairs

http://unfpa.org/ageingreport/

Current Status and the Social Situation, 

Wellbeing, participation in Development and 

Rights of Older Persons Worldwide

UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/ageing/document

s/publications/current-status-older-persons.pdf

An Aging World: 2008

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

and U.S. Department of Commerce

http://www.census.gov/prod/2009pubs/p95-09-

1.pdf

AoA’s Global Aging Webpage

http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/

Special_Projects/Global_Aging/index.aspx

National Network of University Centers for 

Excellence in Developmental Disabilities 

Education, Research & Service

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/aidd/program

s/ucedd

World Report on Disability, 2011

http://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/20

11/en/index.html

For more information about ACL

U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, Administration on Community 

Living, Washington DC 20201

Phone: (202) 619 – 0724

Fax: (202) 357 – 3555

Email: ACLinfo@acl.hhs.gov

Web: http://www.aoa.gov