Today's society is the youngest ever; almost fifty percent of the world's population is aged 25 years or under. But societies are also ageing. It is estimated that by 2050 the population of people older than 65 will have almost quadrupled, while the proportion of children will have declined by a third. By the middle of this century, the old and the young will represent an equal share of the world’s population.
This demographic transition is most visible in developed countries. Some European countries already deal with a negative population growth. The transition in developing countries will occur at a much faster rate than it has in developed countries. In many cases, the necessary infrastructure and policies to deal with the consequent developments may not be in place.
By choosing the theme Youth in an Intergenerational Society, the United Nations wants to stress the importance of solidarity between generations at all levels - in families, communities and nations. In the future, the interdependence of younger and older people will increase. Youth development is a prerequisite to meeting the growing care demands of older people and a condition for the development of society as a whole.