人口老龄化和其他问题 FOREWORD Population ageing has become one of the most significant demo- graphic processes of modern times. An inevitable consequence of the demographic transition and the shift to lower fertility and reduced mortality， the ageing of the world's population has many coun- tries facing unprecedented numbers and proportions of older persons. n much of the world， populations are ageing at an extremely rapid pace. The proportion of older persons， that is those aged 60 years and over， currently comprises around 10 per cent of the world's population， I and is projected to increase to 22 per cent by 2050. About two thirds of older persons live in developing countries and the majority are women. In April 2002， the international community will come together in Madrid， Spain， for the Second World Assembly on Ageing. The Assembly is scheduled to adopt a plan of action that will guide policy formulation and programme implementation in the area of ageing. As part of the preparatory activities leading up to the Second World Assembly on Ageing， UNFPA convened， in collaboration with the United Nations Programme on Ageing， AARP （formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons） and HelpAge International， an Expert Group Meeting on Population Ageing and Development. The meeting was hosted by the International Institute on Ageing （INIA） in Malta from 29-31 October 2001. 【更多详情，请下载：人口老龄化和其他问题】