The Demographic Challenge: A Handbook about Japan

Analysis of Poverty Among the Elderly in South Africa Using the 2018 GHS Data

“…In certain countries like Poland, the elderly over 75 years of age face lower poverty rates relative to those below the 75 years. In developed countries, as argued by Gasparini et al (2007) the combination of strong social protection systems, well-developed capital markets which enhance saving and retirement security and small household sizes contribute considerably to improved relative living standards of the elderly. This is not the case in developing countries, particularly in Africa since pension systems are mostly accessed by those who are not poor and the elderly find themselves in overcrowded households where they have to share income with many family members (Barrientos et al, 2003;Gasparini et al, 2010).…”

“…The global population is aging, practically all countries are experiencing population ageing (Gasparini, Alejo, Haimovich, Olivieri, & Tornarolli, 2007;United Nations, 2019), and none more so has this been evident than in developing countries where between 2000 and 2015, the number of the elderly 1 grew by 60 percent to 602 million with the growth expected to reach 1 billion by 2030 (UNDESA, 2015:9). The efforts made over the years to reduce mortality rates and increase life expectancy across the global have yielded results.…”

“…The elderly in particular have been pointed out as one of the age categories encountering poverty and deprivation on account of where they are in the lifecycle (World Bank, 2000). The literature shows that the elderly are vulnerable to poverty especially in areas where the provision structures of retirement are poor or non-existent (Gasparini et al, 2007;UNDESA, 2017).…”