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Armenia’s aging population has increased in recent years, according to an elderly affairs official.

“The share of the people aged 63 and above makes up 12.9 percent (some 387 000 people) of the permanent population. The figures come to prove that Armenia is an aging country,” Anahit Gevorgyan, the head of the Department on Elderly Affairs of Armenia's Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, told a news conference on Saturday.

She informed that according to the latest data, 85 people aged 100 or over live in Armenia, with the oldest person aged 115 living in Yeranos village of Armenia’s Gegharkunik Province. There are 22 people aged 100 and over living in capital city Yerevan.

According to the official, the aging population growth is linked to the falling birth rates, emigration and longevity trends. She stated this points to another fact that the number of working people is decreasing in the country.

Ms. Gevorgyan next turned to the measures taken by the ministry regarding the aging affairs, noting the new strategy adopted in the field, aimed at ensuring healthy and active aging.

According to her, the international experience shows the success registered in aging affairs are mainly conditioned with quality and affordable health care for the elderly, provision of lifelong education and longer working life, as well as the introduction of alternative social services.

To note, October 1 is marked as International Day of Older Persons for 25 years already.