A representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Iran emphasized the importance of strengthening intersectoral cooperation and promoting an integrated, person-centered approach to care. It was also noted that it is necessary to expand community-level rehabilitation services and create a favorable environment for the elderly to better meet their needs.
During a ceremony marking International Day of Older Persons, Dr. Jean Jabour stated that a longer life should mean not just an increase in lifespan, but an addition of health, dignity, opportunity for participation, and meaning to those years.
The WHO continues to support national programs in the Islamic Republic of Iran through technical cooperation, capacity building, knowledge exchange, and strengthening ties with international experience and networks.
As people live longer, social and medical care systems must transform to meet their needs throughout the entire life cycle.
International Day of Older Persons was established by the United Nations General Assembly on October 1, 1990. This step followed initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, adopted by the World Assembly on Ageing in 1982 and subsequently approved by the UN General Assembly in the same year.
The UN International Day of Older Persons in 2026, held under the theme 'Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives,' calls on governments, civil society, the private sector, researchers, and older persons themselves to examine how societies can ensure that additional years gained in life become healthy, productive, dignified, and equitable years for all.
Humanity is living longer than ever before. Global life expectancy has been steadily increasing for over seven decades, but the gap between expected and healthy life expectancy reached 9.6 years in 2019, reflecting the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. Longer lives draw more attention to how health, social, and economic conditions, as well as human rights are perceived throughout the life cycle.
Longevity intersects with healthcare systems, labor markets, social protection, education, housing, and fiscal sustainability in ways that cannot be addressed in isolation. When years are lived in good health and supported by inclusive labor markets and effective social protection, longer life can generate a longevity dividend. Conversely, without improving healthy life expectancy indicators, older people may spend more time in poorer health, limiting their functional capacity, well-being, autonomy, and participation.
The number of older persons (defined as individuals aged 65 and over) has tripled from approximately 260 million in 1980 to 761 million in 2021. It is projected that between 2021 and 2050, the proportion of the elderly population globally will increase from less than 10% to approximately 17%.
The rapid growth in the number of people reaching old age underscores the importance of promoting health, disease prevention, and treatment throughout the life course.
In societies with aging populations, it becomes critically important to adapt to the growing number of older adults with diverse sets of functional capabilities. The ability to perform basic functions and participate in daily activities depends not only on an individual's innate abilities but also on the social and physical conditions in which they live. A supportive environment plays a key role in helping older people maintain activity levels and independence as they age.
Since older adults already constitute 13 percent of Iran's population, and birth rates in the country continue to decline, demographic changes are accelerating. Current projections indicate that within the next 25 years, nearly a third of Iran's population will be aged 60 or older.
Iran is aging, and this demographic shift will place significant pressure on the healthcare system, pension funds, social support agencies, and the national economy. To prevent the consequences of population aging, the country is implementing policies aimed at increasing the youth population and stimulating fertility.
According to Marzieh Vahid-Dastjerdi, Secretary of the National Headquarters for Population Affairs, the young population is one of the indicators that should be paid attention to. The young population is the proportion of the population aged under 15. In Iran, it accounts for 21.5 percent of the total population, meaning currently 21.5 out of every 100 people are under 15 years old. However, this is declining due to falling birth rates.
Fortunately, Iran is in a demographic window of opportunity—a period when the majority of the population is of working age; the country has 15–20 years left before this demographic window closes.
Alireza Raisi, an official from the Ministry of Health, notes that 'population decline itself is a consequence, not a cause; therefore, to reverse this trend, it is necessary to identify, analyze, and address the various economic, social, cultural, and family factors that have led to the decline in fertility. Moreover, even if we manage to increase the population, we must remember that population aging is inevitable.'