A recent study has highlighted discrepancies in the quality of life for older Indians, demonstrating that while longevity is increasing, the health and well-being enjoyed during those years often vary significantly. The research conducted by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Princeton University, and the University of Vienna reflects on how ageing in India manifests differently for men and women, as well as across urban and rural settings.

At age 60, Indian men can anticipate an additional 17.5 years of life, but only 8.2 of these years are likely to be spent in good health, defined by functional and cognitive well-being. Conversely, women are expected to live longer—19 additional years—but only 5.7 of those years qualify as healthy. This reveals a concerning trend as women outlive men yet face more considerable challenges in maintaining quality of life.

Years of Good Life Index Introduced

The concept of Years of Good Life (YoGL) has been introduced as a new measure that highlights the quality of life, going beyond traditional metrics such as life expectancy. Developed with inputs from economist Amartya Sen’s capability approach, YoGL assesses not merely survival but considers various factors necessary for living independently and securely. A year is classified as ‘good’ only if a person meets four conditions: they are above the poverty line, do not face severe limitations in daily activities, have no cognitive impairments, and report life satisfaction. Thus, the measure presents a more nuanced view of ageing, showing that challenges exist simultaneously across multiple dimensions of health and well-being.

Urban men expect to live 9.2 good years after turning 60, while their rural counterparts and women face significant disparities. Rural women specifically are predicted to enjoy only 4.6 good years, highlighting the pronounced inequalities that exist based on gender and geography. These variations across states are further emphasised by the findings, as states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala demonstrate higher YoGL for older women, suggesting an impact of long-term investments in girls’ education on cognitive health.

In their analysis, researchers employed a comprehensive dataset from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) conducted between 2017 and 2018, integrating mortality statistics from the Sample Registration System (SRS) for 2015-2019. A total of 66,606 individuals aged 45 and above were included, revealing disparities in health outcomes driven by both gender and geography.

Gender Differences in Health Outcomes

The study identifies divergent factors contributing to the loss of good years for men and women. For men, poor functional health is the primary factor, accounting for 45 per cent of state-wise variations in their YoGL. In contrast, cognitive health plays a more critical role for women, representing 46 per cent of the differences observed. This distinction reveals unique challenges faced by each gender as they age. Functional health issues can result in men requiring assistance for basic tasks, while women may grapple with cognitive decline impacting their memory and daily management.

The findings illustrate a notable disparity in cognitive health, with 96 per cent of urban men meeting cognitive health criteria compared to only 69 per cent of rural women. Such differences can be partly attributed to historical disparities in educational access for women, which has long-term effects on their cognitive resilience. Hence, states that have prioritised educational advancements for girls are witnessing better health outcomes among older women.

This evidence indicates a pressing necessity for targeted interventions to address the varied needs of elderly populations and suggests that effective policy planning may require moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.

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