The Aging of a Young Nation: Population Aging in Singapore

Rahul Malhotra*, Mary Ann C. Bautista, Andre Matthias Müller, Su Aw, Gerald Choon Huat Koh, Yin Leng Theng, Stephen James Hoskins, Chek Hooi Wong, Chunyan Miao, Wee Shiong Lim, Chetna Malhotra, Angelique Chan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

102 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The juxtaposition of a young city-state showing relative maturity as a rapidly aging society suffuses the population aging narrative in Singapore and places the "little red dot"on the spotlight of international aging. We first describe population aging in Singapore, including the characteristic events that shaped this demographic transition. We then detail the health care and socioeconomic ramifications of the rapid and significant shift to an aging society, followed by an overview of the main aging research areas in Singapore, including selected population-based data sets and the main thrust of leading aging research centers/institutes. After presenting established aging policies and programs, we also discuss current and emerging policy issues surrounding population aging in Singapore. We aim to contribute to the international aging literature by describing Singapore's position and extensive experience in managing the challenges and maximizing the potential of an aging population. We hope that similar graying populations in the region will find the material as a rich source of information and learning opportunities. Ultimately, we aspire to encourage transformative collaborations-locally, regionally, and internationally-and provide valuable insights for policy and practice.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)401-410
Number of pages10
JournalThe Gerontologist
Volume59
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 1 2019
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2018.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • General Medicine

Keywords

  • Asian and Pacific Rim older adults
  • Health care policy
  • International spotlight
  • Public policy
  • Successful aging

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