Thiruvananthapuram: The proportion of the elderly in Kerala's population, already the highest in India, is set to go up from 12 per cent to 20 per cent by 2026, an expert said on Saturday.
"By 2026, the geriatric population in Kerala will touch 20 per cent primarily due to demographic transition," said Gopukrishnan Pillai, a geriatric care expert, here at the launch of a healthcare clinic attached to Ananthapuri Hospitals and Research Institute.
The current share of the elderly in the state's population is 12 per cent, compared to the national average of eight per cent, Pillai said.
Kerala has a population of 3.30 crore, according to the latest figures.
The "demographic transition" in Kerala is characterised by increased life expectancy which stands at 74.1 years as compared to the national average of 65 years, Pillai said.
"Besides today there are lesser number of children in every family; achievements in the quality of life and migration are other reasons for the increase in the geriatric population of Kerala," he said.
The state's ageing population is giving rise to the social and personal problems similar to what an ageing West has been facing, he added.