Egypt launches 'Golden Age' initiative targeted at senior citizens

CAIRO – 15 June 2023: The Ministry of Social Solidarity launched Wednesday the "Golden Age" initiative targeted at the integration of senior citizens by offering them cultural, religious, and entertainment activities in addition to enhancing the social perception of retirement houses.

The first phase is taking place in Damietta, Port Said, Suez, and Ismailiyah, and took off at a ceremony held in the former comprising 200 senior citizens residing in retirement houses.

The Ministry of Health and Population indicated in a press statement in February that senior citizens (aged above 60) would make up 13.8 percent of the population whose average age would be 29.7 by 2050.

As such, the number of senior citizens will be around 22 million out of the expected 160 million Egyptians, as estimated by a November United Nations report.