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Estimating old-age thresholds using quantity and quality of remaining life years: Application to India and selected states

Sampurna Kundu, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Preeti Dhillon, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

India is in the latter part of the third stage in demographic transition with declining fertility and mortality. This marked decline in death rates is driven by improvements in health conditions due to medical progress and better living conditions. The conventional measures of ageing do not account for the major improvements in health and life expectancy, thus leading to a tendency to overestimate the impact of population ageing when these indicators are used. The old-age threshold in the conventional measures of ageing depends on chronological age. The present study estimated the multidimensional old-age thresholds (MOAT) based on the remaining life expectancy, self-rated health, activities of daily living, handgrip strength and cognition in India and selected states. The standard population was derived for each dimension for 50 and over in states using data from WHO Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health. Keeping the dimensional characteristics as of the standard population, the estimated MOAT for India was 67 years with Maharashtra at the top (68.6), followed by, West Bengal (66.5) and Karnataka (65.9). The study suggests implications of MOATs on reducing the burden of ageing and increment in retirement age.

Keywords: Population ageing

See extended abstract.

  Presented in Session P19.