28 May 1985

22nd plenary meeting

Population structure

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling the recommendations of the United Nations World Population Conference, in particular those contained in the World Population Plan of Action, especially paragraphs 63, 64 and 66 thereof, where emphasis is laid on the need to take fully into account the implications of changing proportions of youth, working-age groups and the aged, which affect a growing number of developed and developing countries,

Recalling also the recommendations of the International Conference on Population, in particular recommendations 57 and 58, in which the Conference called for an intensification of efforts in the execution of specific programmes related to youth and requested that further efforts should be made to analyse the issue of aging, particularly its implications for overall development,

Noting the findings of the studies undertaken in preparation for the World Assembly on Aging,

Affirming the need to implement the Specific Programme of Measures and Activities to be undertaken prior to and during the International Youth Year:

Participation, Development, Peace,

Affirming also the need to implement the International Plan of Action on Aging,

Bearing in mind the deliberations of the Population Commission at its twenty-third session on the implications of the recommendations of the International Conference on Population,

Taking note of General Assembly resolution 39/228 of 18 December 1984, by which the Assembly reaffirmed the need to pay attention to specific problems of population structure,

1. Urges all Governments, when formulating their social and economic policies, plans and programmes, to take fully into account the existing and anticipated demographic structures of their populations, paying particular attention to their relation to the following:

(a) The number of students and the need for teachers and schools, in connection with ongoing and future technological change;

(b) The changing organization and role of the family, particularly families made up of young people;

(c) The formation of new household and housing needs;

(d) The changing patterns of consumption and savings;

(e) The needs of youth for productive employment opportunities;

(f) The needs of the elderly for social and economic security, and their potential contribution to development;

2. Calls upon the Secretary-General, in supporting the activities of Governments in these efforts, to consider fully the relevant aspects of changing age structures and in this respect:

(a) To continue the work of assessing current and future population structures in both developed and developing countries, paying particular attention to the increase in the proportions of youth and the aged in those populations;

(b) To continue and strengthen efforts to study the implications of changing population structure for social and economic development, for family and household structure, and for social services, medical care and other related fields;

(c) To continue and strengthen efforts to monitor and analyse policies to address specific requirements arising from changing population structure, especially for youth and the aged;

(d) To report to the Population Commission, on a timely basis, the findings of studies on these issues, as well as estimates and projections on the youth and the aged populations, and to make that information available to Governments, non-governmental organizations and others concerned.