International Day of Older Persons 2025: Theme, Significance, and Global Events

Every year on 1st October, the world observes the International Day of Older Persons, as designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1990 (resolution 45/106). The day aims to highlight the importance of older persons in society and the need to protect their rights, dignity, and well-being.

In 2025, the theme is “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being and Our Rights”, emphasizing that older persons are not just passive recipients of care but active drivers of social, economic, and cultural progress.

2025 Theme Explained

The 2025 theme focuses on the transformative role of older persons in building resilient, equitable, and inclusive societies. Older persons contribute significantly in areas such as:

• Health Equity – Sharing experience to strengthen healthcare systems.
• Financial Well-Being – Promoting financial inclusion and intergenerational stability.
• Community Resilience – Acting as pillars of families and communities in times of crisis.
• Human Rights Advocacy – Championing dignity, rights, and inclusiveness.

This aligns closely with the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), adopted in 2002, which remains a cornerstone of global ageing policies.

Recent Developments: Human Rights Milestone

In April 2025, the UN Human Rights Council adopted Resolution 58/13, supported by 81 Member States. This established an open-ended working group to draft a legally binding instrument on the rights of older persons.

This marks a historic step, recognizing older persons not only as beneficiaries but also as rights-holders and change-makers in global policy.

Why It Matters: Demographic Shifts

• The number of people aged 65 years and above tripled from 260 million in 1980 to 761 million in 2021.
• By 2050, older persons will make up around 17% of the world’s population.
• The majority of this growth is expected in developing countries, where social protection systems remain weak.

This rapid demographic change makes it urgent to design policies for health, social protection, and age-friendly environments.

Background of the Day

• 1982: Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing adopted at the first World Assembly on Ageing.
• 1990: UN General Assembly declared 1 October as International Day of Older Persons.
• 1991: UN Principles for Older Persons (Resolution 46/91) adopted.
• 2002: Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) adopted at the Second World Assembly on Ageing.

These milestones shaped the global framework for ageing policies, emphasizing a society for all ages.