Celebrating International Day of Older Persons: 1 October
- Lirette Louw Bezuidenhout
- Sep 29
- 3 min read
This week we focus on the importance of celebrating International Day of Older Persons on 1 October. It is a chance to highlight the contributions of older people in our society, whilst acknowledging that this is a growing segment of society, which requires additional focus and attention from decision makers in the public and private sectors.

United Nations Resolution On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated 1 October as International Day of Older Persons. It adopted a Resolution, recognising that the elderly are an asset to society and can contribute significantly to the development process.
Facts and figures emphasising the increased longevity of our world population
As we celebrate this day, we take note of the facts and figures that speak to the need to advocate for the recognition of our aging population not only in respect of increased health and social services, but also the recognition of the continued contributions that this segment makes in our societies.
Some of the most important facts and figures are highlighted on the UN’s dedicated webpage for the commemoration of International Day of Older Persons:
“The number of older people (defined as those aged 65 years or older) tripled from around 260 million in 1980 to 761 million in 2021.
Between 2021 and 2050, the global share of the older population is projected to increase from less than 10% to around 17%.
The number of people aged 65 years or older worldwide is projected to more than double, rising from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion in 2050. The number of people aged 80 years or older is growing even faster.
Today, life expectancy at birth exceeds 75 years in half of the world's countries or areas, 25 years longer than those born in 1950. Individuals reaching the age of 65 are now expected to live an additional 16.8 years on average.
In 2018, a historic milestone was reached when the number of older persons outnumbered children under five for the first time globally. By 2030, the global population of older persons is projected to exceed the number of youth and double the number of children under five”.
Why do we celebrate international days?
International days are celebrated with a view of bringing attention to the achievements of those honoured and at the same time advocating for the needs of that segment of society. In South Africa, we celebrate 1 October as part of a national older persons’ week falling in what Government terms “the Social Development month”.
1 October 2025

A recent article on news24, put the focus on a village in Limpopo where the inhabitants enjoy life well beyond the age of a 100. Stories of centenary celebrations amongst our aging population are becoming more common.
We should use 1 October this year not only as a day to focus on the facts and figures and what it means for the increased recognition of the needs of our elderly population, but also as a day to celebrate the continued contributions made by our elders to our development as a nation and a world at large! ❤️
Take yourself or your friends and go celebrate 1 October this year with one of the many discounted offers we highlight on our website!
All the best
Lirette
Co-founder, PensionersPayLess!
Lirette is a co-founder of PensionersPayLess! and the heart behind its mission to help South Africa's over-55s enjoy life to the fullest. Backed by a Doctorate of Law and two master’s degrees, she combines legal know-how with a passion for practical advice. Lirette writes about topics that she believes will appeal to a wide audience and which mostly relate back to her personal experiences, be it making plans for retirement with her parents, balancing a household budget or enjoying a good meal or holiday.