UNFPA: Indonesia Should Learn from Other Countries to Create Productive Elderly Population

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has stated that Indonesia needs to learn from countries with high proportions of productive elderly populations, such as Japan, in order to effectively utilise its demographic bonus.

“Indonesia also needs to learn from countries with super-aged populations, particularly regarding elderly care systems, pension schemes, the silver economy, and the empowerment of the elderly to ensure they remain productive,” said UNFPA Indonesia Representative, Hassan Mohtashami, during a media briefing ahead of World Population Day in Jakarta on Wednesday.

UNFPA also reminded the government that attention should not only be focused on currently trending issues, as it is more vital to prepare policies whose impacts can be felt by generations 20 to 30 years from now.

Consequently, UNFPA is collaborating with the Indonesian government to support research and data analysis, as well as to analyse the impact of demographic changes on various sectors, including finance, pensions, social protection, and insurance.

“Indonesia needs to learn from other countries, and vice versa. We continue to educate the government that demographic change is a natural phenomenon that must be prepared for through long-term policies,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Population and Family Development (Wamenduklagga)/Deputy Head of BKKBN, Ratu Ayu Isyana Bagoes Oka, stated that Indonesia is currently entering an era of an ageing society. According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the percentage of the population aged 60 and above is expected to reach 11.7 per cent by 2025.

“The increase in the number of elderly people serves as the basis for establishing the ‘Empowered Elderly Program’ (Program Lansia Berdaya) as one of the priority programmes of the Ministry of Population and Family Development/BKKBN, considering that the elderly population is expected to continue increasing alongside rising life expectancy,” she said.

With the total fertility rate (TFR) in Indonesia currently at 2.13 and rising life expectancy, the government is preparing various programmes to ensure the elderly remain productive and prosperous.

“One of our main programmes is ‘Empowered Elderly’, which focuses on improving the quality of life for the elderly. Additionally, the Ministry of Population and Family Development/BKKBN also runs ‘Elderly Schools’ aimed at keeping the elderly active, healthy, and happy, while providing them with knowledge and services tailored to their needs,” said Isyana.