Ageing, Women and Poverty Richard Leete UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia UNDP Resident Representative for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei UNFPA Representative 18 December, 2005 Kelantan

Old Age Globally and in Malaysia: Feminisation and Poverty Global Population Ageing Population ageing is an inevitable consequence of the demographic transition – the shift from higher to lower levels of mortality and especially lower levels of fertility Population ageing is an inevitable consequence of the demographic transition – the shift from higher to lower levels of mortality and especially lower levels of fertility Because transition taking place much faster in developing countries, population ageing is occurring more rapidly Because transition taking place much faster in developing countries, population ageing is occurring more rapidly 2 / 3 of older persons live in developing countries – some 400 million persons, although proportions higher in developed countries 2 / 3 of older persons live in developing countries – some 400 million persons, although proportions higher in developed countries –Women comprise greater proportion of older populations – disparity increases with advancing age Ageing, Women and Poverty

Old Age Globally and in Malaysia: Feminisation and Poverty Older Persons, Poverty and Development Situation of many older persons living in developing countries one of extreme poverty Situation of many older persons living in developing countries one of extreme poverty Traditional family support mechanisms eroding Traditional family support mechanisms eroding –Declining family size, rural to urban migration, declining co-residence and in some countries younger family members dying of HIV/AIDS Poverty experience in childhood and adulthood likely to deepen with advancing age – life cycle of poverty Poverty experience in childhood and adulthood likely to deepen with advancing age – life cycle of poverty Main concerns of older poor – inadequate living conditions, access to health care and social protection, inter- generational violence and abuse Main concerns of older poor – inadequate living conditions, access to health care and social protection, inter- generational violence and abuse Ageing, Women and Poverty

Old Age Globally and in Malaysia: Feminisation and Poverty Increasing Focus on Older Poor Large proportions of older persons in developed countries have attracted supportive concern but relatively little attention in developing countries Large proportions of older persons in developed countries have attracted supportive concern but relatively little attention in developing countries Past policy focus with rapid population growth overshadowed population ageing Past policy focus with rapid population growth overshadowed population ageing Population ageing increasingly seen as major challenge in developing countries especially where: Population ageing increasingly seen as major challenge in developing countries especially where: –Social safety nets do not exist, where there is limited institutional and human resource capacity to respond to basic needs of older persons Ageing, Women and Poverty

European and Japanese Populations Have Heavy Concentration at Older Ages Ageing, Women and Poverty

Malaysia’s Population Getting Older Ageing, Women and Poverty

Share of Older Malaysians Increasing Ageing, Women and Poverty

Share of Older Persons Varies by State Ageing, Women and Poverty

Older Females Outnumber Males in All Ethnic Groups, 2000 Ageing, Women and Poverty

Older Malaysian, Especially Women, Lacking Formal Education, 2000 Ageing, Women and Poverty

Older Malaysians, Especially Women, Have Lower Labour Force Participation Rates Ageing, Women and Poverty

Older Malaysian, if Working, Likely to be in Agriculture Ageing, Women and Poverty

Old Age Globally and in Malaysia: Feminisation and PovertyAgeing, Women and Poverty Older people in Kelantan, Especially Women, Lacking Formal Education, 2000

Old Age Globally and in Malaysia: Feminisation and PovertyAgeing, Women and Poverty Older People in Kelantan more likely to be Engaged in Agriculture

Old Age Globally and in Malaysia: Feminisation and Poverty Conclusion Mainstream ageing issues into multi-sectoral development processes, with a particular focus on older poor Mainstream ageing issues into multi-sectoral development processes, with a particular focus on older poor –Out of Malaysia’s 1.5 million older persons, 14 per cent live in poverty, especially women Ensure appropriate social services and welfare coverage for poor and disadvantaged older persons, most commonly women Ensure appropriate social services and welfare coverage for poor and disadvantaged older persons, most commonly women Promote intergenerational solidarity with the goal of maintaining and improving social cohesion among generations Promote intergenerational solidarity with the goal of maintaining and improving social cohesion among generations Improve data and research on situation and needs of older persons in Malaysia Improve data and research on situation and needs of older persons in Malaysia Ageing, Women and Poverty