Active ageing: ASEAN’s solutions for an ageing population show great promise
- Phnom Penh Post
- Jun 19, 2025
- 3 min read
The world has been facing an ever-worsening issue of ageing societies. Countries like South Korea have a staggering low birth rate of 0.78, and it is not alone. Many other countries are and have been facing similar issues, and ASEAN is no exception. If member states wish to timely address and prevent the potential exacerbation of citizens’ (in particular, the elderly’s) social wellbeing, early action will have to be taken before it's too late.
In China’s case, the one-child policy was introduced in 1973 to control large birth cohorts after China's Great Leap Forward famine, which only allowed one child per household. This led to a fertility reduction of 50% in just eight short years, from 5.8 children per woman in 1970 to 2.8 in 1977. Even when it was removed in 2015, this left a scar on the demographics of China, despite large-scale efforts by the Chinese government to commend and incentivise childbirth. This shows that matters concerning birth and population should be addressed promptly.
In ASEAN’s case, the concern of an ageing population isn’t new. With the proportion of elderly individuals increasing from 5.3% in 2000 to 7.5% in 2022 in the region, despite the percentage being relatively low, ageing is a continuous process that will not pause. Without swift and proper action, ASEAN would have to suffer to endure the severe consequences that an ageing population will bring.
In a discussion regarding the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), Cambodia’s minister brought up solutions centred around active ageing. These include the RICE framework, focused on resolving SOD-1 revolving around resource delegations. The minister emphasises the salience of research, and proposed conducting surveys and analysing statistics to further this, stating that “without information, we will be unable to do anything”. This will be followed by apt infrastructural development, like wheelchair ramps and sports facilities, in accordance with survey findings. Funding through NGOs and collaborative pools of funds, like “Malaysia’s proposed ASEAN Central Fund for Active Ageing (ACFAA)”, and specially-catered services through trained personnel for “elderly with varying dietary or special needs.”
The proposed solution framework accounts for diverse differences in elderly capabilities, highlighting inclusivity as a key consideration in ASEAN’s growth skeleton. Small, quality-of-life improvements like wheelchair ramps also contribute to demonstrating its importance in the country moving forward, ensuring the elderly stay active and do not regress into sedentary habits, which could lead to depressive moods.
However, ministers were not unanimous in the decision on the potential proposals. The minister of Laos invoked a point of debate, worrying that “infrastructure requires too much funding,” and expressing views on feasibility, claiming “NGOs and foreign countries will not just fund 15,000 something pounds to build a single care facility.”
Her concerns are backed by the Australian Minister, who stated there is “no need to compromise the younger generation in the working industry,” arguing that “if we allow the elderly to stay in the working force, they may overshadow opportunities for younger prospects.” The minister elaborated, citing Cambodia as a country with a large percentage of the population living in rural areas, explaining that it was “not feasible to construct buildings in a million acres worth of land in rural areas".
Understandably, these disagreements come from a place of reason and genuine concern; countries in ASEAN, especially those of lower economic development, will struggle to balance funding for active-ageing initiatives and other national interests. As such, geriatrics may fall short in priority.
However, policy and framework implementation is not an overnight operation. While funding may be of primary concern for any action to happen, the development of infrastructure and amenities is gradual. An exorbitant sum is not required to fund these building projects and programmes, as they will be implemented in consideration of investment limits, and done in steps.
Furthermore, to reduce spending, Myanmar proposes the repurposing of existing infrastructure, especially in rural areas, a cheaper alternative to constructing facilities anew. Transforming underused buildings like libraries, especially in rural areas, is much more cost-friendly and financially feasible.
Additionally, a variety of jobs exist, and for different levels of capabilities. The elderly are generally involved in matters of volunteerism and light labour, while young adults are generally involved in sectors centred more around modern skillsets, including but not limited to technology.
In light of the numerous frameworks proposed, Singapore’s minister has called for “need for coordinated action”. Moving forward, overlapping initiatives will merge and account for each country’s needs to reach an early consensus.
All things considered, ASEAN’s drive for active ageing seems optimistic. With increased coordination and alignment in ministers’ views, success in joint efforts working towards a financially feasible, inclusive, and economically sustainable solution appears to be highly promising. The notion of active ageing is looking hopeful, and ASEAN’s elderly community will undoubtedly be its biggest beneficiaries.
Written by Lecus Koh Luck Khye, Tan Wee Kiat Nicolas, and Ryan Ong Wei Heng
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