Ghana’s older population projected to hit 5.7m by 2050

Ghana’s population of people aged 60 years and above is projected to reach 5.7 million by 2050, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has disclosed.

The Ministry said the projection highlights the need for the country to strengthen its social protection, healthcare and support systems to respond to a rapidly ageing population.

It made the disclosure in a statement to commemorate the 2026 International Day of Older Persons on Thursday, October 1, under the theme, “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives.”

“According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, the number of people aged 60 and above rose from 213,477 in 1960 to 1,991,736 in 2021, nearly a tenfold increase, and is projected to reach 5.7 million by 2050,” the Ministry said.

The Ministry said the demographic shift presents opportunities but also requires Ghana to strengthen income security, healthcare, care and support services, age-friendly communities and the protection of the rights of older persons.

It noted that older persons continue to contribute to national development through caregiving, farming, business, community leadership, mentoring and the transfer of knowledge and culture across generations.

The Ministry said it is working with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to strengthen Ghana’s response to ageing under the Social Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1148) and the Social Protection Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2521).

It identified the expansion of support through the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme as one of its priorities, alongside efforts to make social protection systems more responsive to longer lives and changing family structures.

On healthcare, the Ministry said it is working with the health sector to promote preventive care, early detection and management of non-communicable diseases, mental health services, rehabilitation, and geriatric, long-term and home-based care.

It also said the 2010 National Ageing Policy is being updated to reflect current realities, with emphasis on healthy longevity, rights, care, participation and data.

The Ministry further said it would strengthen the National Technical Committee on Ageing to improve coordination of the national response to ageing.

On the protection of older persons, it said measures would be strengthened to address age discrimination, neglect, abuse and exploitation, including through the Orange Support Centre.

“Older persons are not merely beneficiaries of programmes, they are citizens with rights, skills, experience and aspirations,” the Ministry said.