Ageing Demographics and Social Protection in the Middle East and North Africa Policy opportunities and challenges

Population ageing is happening faster in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region than has historically been observed in many European countries. The MENA region is also characterised by relatively recent declines in fertility rates, resulting in large numbers and percentages of people within the labour market participation ages. The latter is referred to as population dividends or youth bulges, offering a window of opportunity to prepare for the shift towards aged populations. Within a few decades, the same cohorts of the ‘youth bulges’ will move into old ages, offering a second demographic dividend and highlighting an urgent need for policy reforms to maximise the social and economic contributions of older people while ensuring adequate social protection, health and long-term care (LTC) support and mechanisms are in place for those who might need it. This report is focused on the experience of ageing demographics in the MENA region, detailing some of the policy opportunities and challenges associated with such a shift in population structures. We analyse national statistics and indicators collated primarily by the United Nations and the World Bank. These are complemented with academic literature reviews and policy analyses. The analyses and discussions presented here aim to open policy debates in response to population ageing in the region. It highlights the window of opportunity associated with current population dividends observed in the region, focusing on the potential value of closing the gender gap and disparities.