More than 90,000 Fijians now aged 60-plus as population ages
Government develops 10-year policy to prepare for growing needs of older people
Tuesday 25 August 2026 | 15:30
Updated 25 August 2026 | 17:04 FJT
Minister for Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran along with other stakeholders on August 25, 2026.
Fiji is ageing, with more than 90,000 people aged 60 and over, putting growing pressure on the country to prepare for the needs of an older population.
This was revealed by the Government during the opening of the Validation Workshop on Fiji's Voluntary National Survey for the Fifth Asia-Pacific Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing in Suva today.
Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran said ageing could no longer be treated as an issue for the future.
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“Government is now working on a new National Ageing Policy aimed at preparing Fiji for the changing population,” Ms Kiran said.
National Council for Older Persons chief executive officer Nilesh Goundar said Fiji was living longer, fertility was declining and family structures were changing, meaning the number of older people would continue to rise.
He said the challenge went beyond health and social welfare. It included income security, housing, transport, disability, justice, disaster preparedness, climate resilience, accessibility, long-term care and the participation of older people in society.
“No single ministry can address all of this,” Mr Goundar said, stressing the need for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response.
The Draft National Ageing Policy 2026–2035 has six priority areas, including social protection and financial security, health and aged care, transport and accessibility, digital inclusion, community infrastructure and climate resilience, and legal protection.
The policy has 63 proposed actions, with the next step being to develop an implementation plan showing who will be responsible, what resources are needed and how progress will be measured.
Ms Kiran said the Government also wanted to strengthen the Social Pension Scheme, improve access to health services and transport subsidies, modernise care facilities and strengthen protection against abuse, neglect and exploitation.
The national review is expected to help identify gaps and guide the final National Ageing Policy and its implementation framework.
