Ageing, housing and urban development

Over the next 25 years, some 70 million people will retire in OECD countries, to be replaced by just 5 million new workers. This contrasts strongly with the past 25-year period, in which 45 million new pensioners were replaced in the workforce by 120 million baby boomers.

The social and economic consequences of this major demographic shift will be ubiquitous, affecting labour markets, education, pensions and long-term care systems. Moreover, since most elderly persons in OECD countries live in urban areas, the ageing process will not only provoke demand for changes in the provision and design of housing and ancillary services such as caring and transport, it will also influence the lifestyles of citizens all ages and the trajectory of urban development. OECD governments, businesses and civil society will have to develop innovative responses to the new demands created by the ageing of urban society. The Oslo Conference examined the cross-sectoral approaches and partnerships which will be required to fulfil this complex task.

This report, which is a contribution to the OECD activity on Ageing, assesses how urban policies and governance can become more responsive and innovative so as to make better use of the potential of older people while providing them with a high quality of life. It highlights how ageing will affect urban design and development in terms of housing, land use, transportation and the urban environment and points to the growing role of new technologies in member countries.