International Day of Older Persons

What Is the International Day of Older Persons?

October 1st is the International Day of Older Persons, designated by the United Nations General Assembly on December 14, 1990, through resolution A/RES/45/106. The day aims to raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges facing the world's ageing population and to promote the rights, dignity, and participation of older people in society.

The Global Context: A World Growing Older

The world is undergoing a demographic transformation unlike any in human history. According to UN projections, the number of people aged 65 and over is expected to grow from approximately 770 million today to over 1.5 billion by 2050.

• Japan leads the world: Japan has the highest proportion of older people globally, with about 29.1% of its population aged 65 or over as of 2023 — nearly 1 in 3 people is a senior
• The "super-aged society": Japan coined the term chō-kōrei shakai (超高齢社会) to describe this unprecedented demographic reality
• The oldest verified person: Japan's Kane Tanaka lived to 119 years old (died 2022), holding the record for the world's oldest verified living person for several years

This Day vs. Japan's Respect for the Aged Day

Japan celebrates its own Keirō no Hi (敬老の日, Respect for the Aged Day) on the third Monday of September. While both honour older people, they differ:

• Keirō no Hi: A Japanese national holiday rooted in values of filial piety; focuses on celebration and family gratitude
• International Day of Older Persons: A UN day focused on global policy advocacy — addressing elder poverty, healthcare access, workplace discrimination, and rights of older workers worldwide

Active Ageing: The Key Concept

The World Health Organization (WHO) promotes Active Ageing — optimising opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people grow older.

• Health: Maintaining physical, mental and social wellbeing throughout later life
• Participation: Continuing to contribute through work, volunteering, and community engagement
• Security: Having economic, physical and social protection in old age

How to Mark This Day

• Call or write to a grandparent, elderly neighbour, or older friend — a small gesture that can mean the world
• Reflect on what ageing means to you and how you hope to spend your later years
• Look into local senior centre volunteer opportunities or elder care support programmes
• Ask an older person in your life to share their stories and memories — preserving those histories is a gift to future generations

A World Where Every Age Matters

The International Day of Older Persons is a reminder that a just society is measured by how it treats its most experienced members. Older people are not a "burden" — they are a reservoir of wisdom, history, and love. On October 1st, take a moment to honour the older people in your life and imagine a world where every age is celebrated.