WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE)
About the World Summit on Social Development
The United Nations General Assembly, through its resolutions 78/261 and 78/318, decided to convene the “World Social Summit” in 2025, under the title “the Second World Summit for Social Development” to be held in Doha, Qatar from 4-6 November.
The Summit will convene heads of State or Government, along with other leaders and CSOs, to address gaps and recommit to the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action and its implementation and give momentum towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Advancing Healthy Ageing as a Cornerstone of Social Development
As populations age at unprecedented rates, the global community faces a decisive moment: will we adapt policies and systems to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to age with dignity, health, and voice, or risk leaving millions behind? Our work demonstrates that investing in healthy ageing strengthens entire societies, from resilient health systems and inclusive labour markets to sustainable urban development and intergenerational solidarity. The ageing agenda must be a core component of the sustainable development agenda.
World Health Organization, 2015
SAGE is a longitudinal study collecting data on adults aged 50 years and older, plus a smaller comparison sample of adults aged 18–49 years, from nationally representative samples in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russian Federation and South Africa.
Findings from a multi-country study in lower-middle and upper-middle income countries, covering over 40% of the world’s population aged 50+ years, have provided some intriguing insights, but also raise more questions:
- Why are older adults in China consistently reporting better health status and lower disability levels than compatriots in India?
- How does living in Ghana and South Africa contribute to higher levels of happiness in old age than in India?
- What are the factors that influence the associations between diabetes, gait speed and cognitive function in Mexico and Russia?
The Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) is part of a Longitudinal Survey Programme in WHO’s Multi-Country Studies unit. The main SAGE surveys compile comparable longitudinal information on the health and well-being of adult populations and the ageing process from nationally representative samples in the following six countries:
Each country’s national report is a descriptive summary of results, including this report of SAGE Wave 1. Wave 2 follow-up has been implemented in China, Ghana and Mexico, with the remaining three countries to be completed by late 2015 and Wave 3 follow-up is planned to start in 2016. More information is available on the WHO website.
Contact us
Telephone: +1 (416) 342-1655
Fax: +1 (416) 639-2165
1 Bridgepoint Drive, Suite G.238
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M4M2B5
© 2025 International Federation on Ageing. All rights reserved.
