# India to have 347 million over 60 by 2050, study warns

2026-08-07T16:00:49+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

A Transform Rural India study warns that India is ageing before it grows rich, with 34.7 crore people projected to be over 60 by 2050, one in every five citizens. Nearly 70% of these elderly will live in rural areas. The number of working-age adults per older person will fall from 8.4 in 2001 to 5.2 by 2026. Women spend 305 minutes daily on unpaid care versus 56 minutes for men. The study says 94% of elder care is still within households, straining families as they shrink and younger generations migrate. Non-communicable diseases now cause two-thirds of deaths. The paper proposes a 'neighbourhood of care' model to connect Gram Panchayats, self-help groups, ASHAs, Anganwadis and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs into a unified network. It estimates that investing 2% of GDP in the care economy could generate 11 million jobs, mostly for rural women.

## Coverage

- deccanherald.com <https://www.deccanherald.com/india/old-before-rich-20-of-indias-population-to-be-over-60-by-2050-4103006>
- indiatoday.in <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-growing-old-before-growing-rich-says-new-demographic-study-2966215-2026-08-08?utm_source=rss>

Tags: ageing population, demographic transition, Elder care, rural India, unpaid care work, women's labour
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