Now Reading: Kerala’s ageing population reshapes housing demand
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Kerala’s ageing population reshapes housing demand
Kerala, already India’s oldest state demographically, is seeing its share of people aged 60 and above reach 22.8% by 2036, according to government projections. The elderly population is expected to nearly double…
The Story in Brief
Kerala, already India’s oldest state demographically, is seeing its share of people aged 60 and above reach 22.8% by 2036, according to government projections. The elderly population is expected to nearly double from 4.2 million in 2011 to 8.4 million. In response, the state presented India’s first dedicated Elderly Budget in 2026, bringing together healthcare, social security and age-friendly infrastructure.
This shift is reshaping residential real estate. Developers are moving beyond conventional apartments to create senior living communities with wider doorways, step-free entrances and emergency response systems. The trend is expected to grow as India’s 60-plus population rises from 149 million in 2022 to 347 million by 2050. The Hindu reports that future projects will likely incorporate universal design principles, benefiting all age groups.
The Indian Opinion
The narative that Kerala is somehow ahead of other states in planning for its elderly may be overblown. A single Elderly Budget and a handful of schemes do not equal a housing revolution. The real test is whether developers will actually build accessible homes at scale, or whether these remain premium products for the rich. Will the state enforce universal design in new buildings? That is the number that will settle the question.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
