Population ageing succeeded by demographic dividend: the state of the Arab World

Background: The recent developments delineate the Arab World as an entity with population patterns and trends. Although it has undergone slow and delayed demographic transformations, this region has gained momentum and is thus rapidly improving in epidemiological and health prospects. Such a momentum has driven the Arab World beyond its historical superiority in living quality and lifestyle. Aims and objectives: This analysis explains the ageing process as an outcome of the demographic dividend of the Arab World in the last three decades. Methodology: The US Census Bureau International Database for 21 Arab countries was extracted for four time periods – 1992, 2002, 2012, and 2022. The dataset gives age-wise (five-year age groups) – from 0-4 to 100+, paving the way for ageing analyses from 60-64 years onwards. Analyses were made to explore hexagenarians, septuagenarians, octogenarians, nonagenarians, and centenarians in addition to proportions, percentages, rates, and ratios. Results: The Arab World, as a whole, has a very complex demographic and gerontologic scenario, characterized by homogeneity in many dimensions but diversity in prominence. Demographic dividend, as the current scenario gives way to population ageing, is shortly. Even with the ageing of the population, this homogeneity versus diversity is reflected in the region, with many populations recording a faster ageing process. The elderly persons of hexagenarians, septuagenarians, octogenarians, nonagenarians, and centenarians are increasing in numbers and even in proportions. Discussion: While immigration replaces and camouflages the ageing process in the GCC, the political unrest in the Other West Asia and the Arab Maghreb affects the scenario: the Nile Valley African Horn has a resource-thrift as the basis. Moreover, there are countrywide differentials within each geographic sector. Conclusions and recommendations: With all these considerations and the increasing ageing of the aged, the Arab World demands ageing care from many dimensions to develop policies and programs.