Mental health of older adults

Key facts

• By 2030, one in six people in the world will be aged 60 years or over.
• Loneliness and social isolation are key risk factors for mental health conditions in later life.
• One in six older adults experience abuse, often by their own carers.
• Approximately 14% of adults aged 60 and over live with a mental disorder.
• Mental disorders among older adults account for 10.6% of the total years lived with disability for this age group.

Overview

The world’s population is ageing fast. In 2020, 1 billion people in the world were aged 60 years or over. That figure will rise to 1.4 billion by 2030, representing one in six people globally. By 2050, the number of people aged 60 years and over will have doubled to reach 2.1 billion. The number of persons aged 80 years or older is expected to triple between 2020 and 2050 to reach 426 million (1).

Older adults contribute to society as family and community members, and many are volunteers and workers. While most have good health, many are at risk of developing mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders. Many may also experience reduced mobility, chronic pain, frailty, dementia or other health problems, for which they require some form of long-term care. As people age, they are more likely to experience several conditions at the same time.

Information presented on this page has been replicated from the linked WHO fact sheet. Please always refer to the original source on who.int for the latest version. Last update: March 2024.