Sweden: The best place to grow old
Sweden is the best place in the world to be old and Afghanistan the worst, according to a UN-backed global study.
The Global AgeWatch Index examined the quality of life of the elderly in 91 countries. Researchers used 13 different indicators - including income and employment, health provision, education, and environment - in what they said was the first study of kind to be conducted on a global scale.
By 2050, older people will outnumber children under 15 for the first time, with most of the elderly in developing countries, it said.
The Global AgeWatch Index was complied by the UN Population Fund and advocacy group HelpAge International, and released to mark the UN's Day of Older Persons.
While Sweden came top, and Afghanistan was placed last, the top 20 was dominated by countries from Western Europe and North America, along with Japan, Australia and Chile.
But some large fast-developing countries fared worse than others, with Russia (78), India (73) receiving a low rank.
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