Table of Contents
Authors | Arantxa Herranz, Raquel C. Pico
Low birth rates and longer life expectancy are leading to an inversion of the population pyramid. In other words, many countries already have ageing populations. This is becoming particularly relevant in urban environments, which are typically designed for a young, working-age population.
At a global level we have gone from just 4.97% of the population being over the age of 65 in 1960, to the figure standing at 8.87% last year. Almost double. In fact, the European Union is the region with the oldest population in the world. The average age of its inhabitants is now 44.9, according to the most recent Eurostat statistics (from January 2025), a figure explained by the high percentage of older people and the low percentage of children. Twenty-two percent of the population of Eurozone countries is over the age of 65, and projections from the statistical office indicate that this proportion will continue to increase.
The EU will be at the forefront of a situation with global implications. UN projections indicate that, by 2050, there will be more people over the age of 65 worldwide than under the age of 15. This will be the first time this has happened since records began.
The challenges associated with ageing will therefore become even more pressing in the near future. Countries must prepare to address the realities of a changing population structure, with ageing populations requiring them to become more accessible, particularly in their cities. After all, that is where most of the population is concentrated.
This population ageing and the corresponding specific needs must be taken into account by cities when developing their services. Preparing for an ageing population is also a matter of urban resilience. This raises certain questions. For example, how should cities tackle the needs of elderly people living alone in their own homes? Or what about those whose physical or mental condition has deteriorated and who need to be hospitalized or require residential care?
Age-friendly cities
Adapting to the needs of an ageing population is therefore a priority in urban planning. Many of the decisions that need to be made also provide broader benefits in terms of accessibility, with an impact that extends far beyond this specific target population. Accessible cities offer benefits across many segments of the population.
“It’s important to be aware of this trend toward an ageing population. It’s an enormous challenge for cities around the world, which will need to change and ensure that older people continue to play an active role in the community and do not become isolated,” Stefano Recalcati, who led Arup’s Shaping Ageing Cities study, told The Guardian. “Small innovations can make a difference.”
Urban planning is fundamental to adapting cities to the needs of an ageing population because it makes it possible to address some of the challenges arising from this population’s needs at their source. This means taking into account how mobility slows with age (from an average walking speed of 4.8 km/h to 3 km/h for those over 65 and 2 km/h for those over 80) and the need for shorter distances between essential services, from access to public restrooms and stores to the amount of time allowed to cross streets.
Age-friendly cities are therefore those that design and adapt their communities, so they are suitable for everyone, regardless of age or abilities. That is, barrier-free, inclusive and cohesive cities, designed for diversity. This needs to be applied to diverse areas such as road and transport infrastructures, which must be accessible and safe, as well as access to all buildings (including houses). For example, with the emergence of new transport systems (such as bicycles or scooters), cities need to bear in mind that public spaces are also used by elderly citizens, who are not as physically agile as youngsters, who tend to use these new transport systems. Or perhaps they do not feel as comfortable using shared means of transport, which require the use of an app. These age-friendly cities also need to have benches on their streets or facilities that enable elderly people to stay active, connected and able to contribute to the economic, social and cultural aspects of life, according to the World Health Organisation. This agency also indicates that these measures not only benefit this population group, but also foster solidarity between generations within communities, facilitating social relationships and bonds between residents of all ages.
In 2015, the United Kingdom launched Healthy Towns, a project aimed at developing healthier cities. These were some of the criteria considered. However, these are not the only examples. In Gothenburg, Sweden, “conversation benches” have been introduced to encourage intergenerational interaction, while in Nottingham, United Kingdom, a designation has been created to identify businesses where older people can sit down if they need to while out walking.
But much remains to be done. In Spain, for example, only 2.85% of cities are adapted to their ageing populations, according to data from Imserso.
The role of technology
At the same time, technological advances in recent years can become a driving force for achieving better results and creating cities that are resilient to the challenges of an ageing population. There are already electronic devices that make life easier for older people, such as voice assistants and tracking wristbands, but the potential extends much further. The smart city can be age-friendly, using these solutions to solve problems, anticipate them, or create new opportunities.
Urban challenges in the face of an ageing population
Successfully adapting to the needs of an ageing population requires developing a cross-cutting strategy and addressing certain challenges. The first and most fundamental is that cities themselves were not designed with older people in mind, which can make them hostile environments. “The city is currently designed as a way to facilitate work and the accumulation of capital, and old age is the opposite of that, which is why there are so many barriers,” Ana Fernández, one of the authors of Arquitecturas del cuidado. Hacia un envejecimiento activista. [Architectures of Care: Toward Activist Ageing], told El Diario. This translates into prioritizing cars over pedestrians, narrow sidewalks, expectations of moving quickly through the city, and a lack of green spaces. These issues also have an impact in other areas and on other challenges, including climate resilience.
UN-Habitat recommends incorporating an age perspective into urban planning and architecture, which means considering both younger and older populations. This applies to buildings, infrastructure, and public spaces, but also involves adjustments to urban culture, such as creating opportunities for volunteering and active ageing among older people, as well as fostering intergenerational connections.
How can cities respond to this progressive ageing of the population and strengthen urban resilience? In general terms, we could say that efforts must focus on various areas: outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, guaranteeing participation in cities, respect for the elderly and social inclusion, health and communication are the main ones.
The focus on some of these aspects seems quite clear. For example, the fact that streets and public buildings have a significant impact on the mobility, independence and the quality of life of people. For the elderly, accessibility and safety in these contexts, having green spaces, walkable streets, outdoor seats and accessible buildings (with lifts or stairs with railings), are aspects that make their life easier in cities. Likewise, having transport systems that enable them to get about in their neighbourhoods or cities, not only improves their quality of life, but also ensures greater participation in society. And being able to actively take part in their community (for example, through volunteer work) is closely related to good health and wellbeing throughout life. If the place of residence is important to all citizens, allowing people to grow old in the place of their choice, will make us all more inclusive and strengthen our respect toward older people. Some cities have designed neighbourhoods specifically for the elderly, but most people want to be able to grow old in the place of their choice and not be “displaced.” This displacement is not necessarily physical. Sometimes, older people feel that there are negative behaviours and attitudes towards them. Although many feel they are respected, recognised and included, sometimes they experience a certain lack of consideration in society. Therefore, cities can promote intergenerational activities that enable younger and older generations to learn from one another. Furthermore, despite the rise of information and communication technologies, cities must not forget that older people can feel lost with these tools, which can even become instruments of social exclusion. Therefore, they should make sure that relevant information is accessible for older people with different capacities and resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key characteristics of an age-friendly city?
The answer lies in an approach to urban organization that goes beyond urban planning. Wider sidewalks, more benches, and more even paving are accompanied by other measures, such as systems that reduce the complexity of navigating the city or encourage older residents to remain active.
Does this mean focusing only on tangible aspects, such as infrastructure?
No, not at all. Urban resilience in the face of an ageing population also addresses issues such as unwanted loneliness and active ageing. It also views older people as individuals with agency, rather than as passive recipients of well-intentioned measures.
Are major investments necessary?
Small-scale urban interventions, such as simple traffic-calming measures, restoring green planting areas, or installing a couple of benches, can already deliver significant benefits.
What new solutions are being tested?
Given that not only the population pyramid but also society’s perception of old age has changed, new solutions are being tested to help ensure independence at this stage of life. This is where co-housing initiatives for older people come into play.
When will the demographic tipping point be reached?
The UN expects that by 2050, the percentage of people worldwide over the age of 65 will exceed that of those under 15 for the first time.
Images | Immortal Shots, Oleg Magni, Matthias Zomer
