Across the OECD, the share of older adults in the urban population is growing rapidly, including in the OECD’s largest cities that continue to grow and serve as magnets for younger people. Whether growing or not, these profound demographic changes are forcing cities to re‑evaluate urban policies on investment, infrastructure, urban spaces, housing and services to ensure that they are able to cater to all age groups.
As part of the OECD’s work on promoting inclusive growth in cities and managing demographic change in regions, this report provides a number of actions that governments can take to respond to rapid ageing and, in the process, transform cities into age-inclusive places that ensure opportunities, accessibility and safety for residents at every stage of life.
In promoting an “age-inclusive” approach – such as universally accessible public transport, diversified housing options, investment in the “silver economy” and telemedicine – the report highlights direct and immediate benefits to well-being of residents and economic growth but also emphasises how such an approach can generate broader and long-lasting benefits for quality urbanisation, climate resilience and digital inclusion. For example, reskilling older adults so they can continue to work if they choose to do so can help ease labour market tightness in many OECD member countries and improve digital literacy skills, enabling access to many public e-services, including health. The report also considers the economic and social costs of inaction. For example, investing in pedestrian safety to encourage active mobility can help reduce emissions and the longer-term costs (on health and the environment) associated with them.
The report provides a checklist of nine key actions that governments at all levels can take to create age‑inclusive cities. Grounded in global best practices from both national and local governments, the checklist offers a practical tool for designing cities that meet the needs of all generations.
An earlier version of the report was presented for discussion at the 36th Working Party on Urban Policy of the Regional Development Policy Committee on 3 December 2024 under cote [CFE/RDPC/URB(2024)22].