Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) - According to the Population Reference Bureau, for every person over 65 in sub-Saharan Africa, there are at least 10 aged between 15 and 65. This is a stark contrast to countries like Japan that have one retiree for every three working persons in their populations. This jeopardizes pension guarantees and long-term healthcare programs for the elderly. East Africa, which has an average 15 working-age adults for every elderly person of 65 and above, should then be a pleasant place for the elderly, where they retire secure in the knowledge that there are many youth in the workforce to support them in their sunset years. However, the East African Community countries lack concrete state-run social security programs for the elderly, who mostly end up depending on their children. Most African counties have a low life expectancy, in some as low as 47 years, a trend that is attributed to disease, violence and malnutrition among other factors. Statistics from the UN indicate that Tanzania has the highest life expectancy in the region, standing at 57 years for men and 59 for women respectively; followed by Kenya at 56 and 57 respectively; and Uganda at 55 and 56. In Burundi, men are expected to live to the age of 51, while women could live up to 54. Rwanda has the lowest life expectancy at 50 for men and 54 for women. According to the Population Research Bureau, over the years, the average worldwide ratio of elderly persons to the working age, which is considered a measure of the levels of potential social support available for the elderly, has been on the decline. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 20/10/2010)
