Citing results of the 2023 Population Census, the deputy minister stated that 12 percent of Indonesia's population, or around 29 million people, are older adults.
"The number is predicted to increase to 20 percent by 2045," Harbuwono remarked during a dissemination of research findings on older adults at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Indonesia (FKUI) in Jakarta on Thursday.
He further explained that despite Indonesia being projected to experience a demographic dividend in 2045, with members of the working-age population constituting a major chunk, it is concomitantly also predicted to record a surge in the older adult population.
"It is estimated that the number (of older adults) in 2045 would be around 50 million in Indonesia," he remarked.
Highlighting the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey (SKI), Harbuwono remarked that almost three percent of older adults have moderate, severe, to total dependency due to certain diseases.
To this end, the deputy minister underscored the need for the right strategy to help older adults to be healthy so that they can be stronger.
To this end, he lauded the FKUI that has conducted special research on older adults in Gili Iyang, Sumenep District, East Java, and Miduana Village, Cianjur District, West Java, that have healthy older adults aged up to 100 years.
Harbuwono is upbeat that the research would increase knowledge on the health of older adults, especially regarding improving their quality of life.
The deputy minister is also optimistic that other institutions in the country would conduct similar research so that it could support the government in creating the right policies to support people to be healthy, independent, active, and productive.
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Translator: Sean Filo, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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