Older people and chronic poverty

Older people in Africa are among

those who have benefited least from

economic growth and development.

They, and their children, will make

up the majority of the 900 million

people who will still be in poverty

in 2015 even if the Millennium

Development Goals are met.

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People

who are chronically poor all their

lives, and are unable to save for old

age, become particularly vulnerable

when they can no longer work, or if

their family cannot support them.

A survey of 15 African countries

found that in 11 of these countries

the proportion of older people living

in poverty was higher than the

national average. This is particularly

the case when older people live in

families with young children.

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In

Uganda, 64 per cent of older people

live in poverty compared to 38 per

cent of the population as a whole.

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This poverty prevents older people

from participating in society, and

from accessing services for themselves

and their families.