Fiji's older population expected to reach 20% in 2050

Fiji’s older population is expected to reach nearly 20% of the population in 2050.

This was highlighted by the Permanent Secretary for Women Children and Poverty Alleviation, Jennifer Poole at the International Day of Older Persons celebration at the Suva Bowling club this morning.

Poole says between 2015 to 2030 the number of people aged 60 and over is expected to increase from 901 million to 1.4 billion.

She says the percentage of the population in Fiji aged 60 and over has been increasing steadily since 2000.

She says in the national census of 2017, Fiji’s older population comprised 9.1% of the total population.

Poole says Government has now lowered the eligibility age for the social pension scheme to 65 years of age as opposed to 70 years of age when it was initiated in 2013.

She says the pension has also doubled from $50 dollars to $100 per month for the beneficiary and today around 44,781 older persons benefit from this scheme.

Poole says every old person aged 60 plus qualifies to benefit from the bus fare concession by the Fiji Government and the Fiji Bus operation association.

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