The Ministry of Social and Family Development of Maldives, in collaboration with ESCAP launched its National Policy on Ageing.  

Key objectives of the policy include promoting active and healthy ageing by ensuring equal access to age-appropriate, high-quality health care and long-term care services, as well as long-term education and skills development. In addition, key policies to strengthen and expand income security through social security systems, pensions and opportunities for economic participation are also included, enabling older people to remain financially self-sufficient. 
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Minister of Social and Family Development, Dr. Aishath Shiham said the implementation of the policy will encourage further protection of the rights of older persons, ensure their wellbeing, increase their participation in social activities and encourage older people to live empowered lives without relying on others. Sabine Henning, Chief, Sustainable Demographic Transition Section, Social Development Division, ESCAP stated “having a forward-looking policy in place, with a related action plan, is important so that the country does not lose any time in addressing the challenges, but also the opportunities of population ageing”.  

Subsequent to the launch of the policy, stakeholders discussed the draft of an action plan to implement the policy on ageing. The draft had been prepared with support from ESCAP.  

The Maldives is one of the countries with the most rapidly ageing populations in Asia and the Pacific. The proportion of the population aged 65 or over is projected to almost quadruple from 5.0 per cent in 2025 to 21.5 per cent in 2025.