Study Finds Many Kazakh Citizens Not Embracing Healthy Aging Practices
Kazakhstan Struggles with Healthy Aging Practices, Only 32.1% of Population Engaging
A recent report by the Kazakh Bureau of National Statistics has revealed that only 32.1% of Kazakhstan’s population is engaging in healthy aging practices. This data was reported through the Active Longevity Index (ALI) for 2023, highlighting a concerning trend in the nation.
According to the report, men scored slightly higher at 32.9%, while women stood at 31.5%. This leaves a significant portion of the population, 67.9%, underutilizing their potential for active and healthy aging. The index for both sexes has shown a slight increase of 1.1 percentage points compared to 2022 and 2.5 percentage points compared to 2020.
The Active Longevity Index consists of four domains, made up of 22 partial indicators. The first three domains focus on employment, social participation, and independent/health/secure living, which are direct indicators of active aging. The fourth domain, capacity and enabling environment, reflects the potential for active aging among the population.
Throughout the years, from 2019 to 2023, the index has shown the highest values in the third and fourth domains. In 2023, indicators such as relative median income, no risk of poverty, formal education level, and use of information and communications technology scored high. However, indicators like participation in volunteer activities, care for the sick and disabled, and employment rate at the age of 70-74 years showed lower scores.
The World Health Organization defines active aging as “the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation, and security to enhance quality of life as people age.” It is crucial for governments and communities to focus on promoting active aging practices to ensure the well-being and quality of life for their aging population.
