Have a personal or library account? Click to login
Population Aging as a Global Demographic Phenomenon and its Implications for Public Health Cover

Population Aging as a Global Demographic Phenomenon and its Implications for Public Health

Open Access
|Feb 2026

References

  1. Devedžić M, Stojilković Gnjatović J. Demographic profile of the elderly population of Serbia. Belgrade: Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, 2015.
  2. Devedžić M, Stojilković J. A new understanding of old age – prospective old age. Population 2012; (1): 45–68.
  3. Jakovljevic M, Laaser U. Population aging from 1950 to 2010 in seventeen transitional countries in the wider region of South Eastern Europe. SEEJPH 2015; 3(1). doi: 10.4119/seejph-1796.
  4. Tasić M. Geriatric practicum. Belgrade: Draslar partner, 2007.
  5. United Nations: World Population Ageing 1950–2050: Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. New York: United Nations Publication, 2007.
  6. Afshar S, Roderick PJ, Kowal P, Dimitrov BD, Hill AG. Multimorbidity and the inequalities of global ageing: a cross-sectional study of 28 countries using the World Health Surveys. BMC Public Health 2015; 13:15:776. doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-2008-7.
  7. World Population Ageing 2013. New York : United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2013.
  8. Jakovljevic M. Resource allocation strategies in Southeastern European health policy. The European Journal of Health Economics 2013; 14(2):153–159. doi: 10.1007/s10198-012-0439-y.
  9. Šobot, A. Three demographic consequences of genderspecific behavioral models on the example of Serbia. Population 2012; 50(2): 85–109. doi: 10.2298/STNV1202085S.
  10. Šobot, A. Demographic framework of gender inequality and quality of life in old age. Gerontology, 2011; 38(1): 30–50.
  11. World Health Organisation. World Report on Ageing and Heallth. Health in older age, 2015. Available from: www.who.int/healthinfo/survey/ageingdefnolder/en/.
  12. He W, Goodkind D, Kowal P. An Aging World: 2015 International Population Reports. U.S., Washington: Government Publishing Office, 2016.
  13. Kinsella, K., Wan He. U.S. Census Bureau, International Population Reports, P95/09-1, An Aging World: 2008. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2009.
  14. Sanderson CW, Scherbov S. Rethinking age and ageing, „Population bulletin‘ 2008;63(4).
  15. Bongaarts J. Fertility Transitions in Developing Countries: Progress or Stagnation? Population Council Poverty, Gender, and Youth Working Paper, 2008.
  16. Ezeh, AC., Blessing UM, Jacques OE. Stall in Fertility Decline in Eastern African Countries: Regional analysis of patterns, determinants, and implications. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 2009; 364: 2991–3007. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2009.0166.
  17. Population Division, DESA, United Nations: World population Ageing: 1950–2050. Available from: http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/worldageing19502050/.
  18. Stojilković, J, Dinić, D. Demographic and social dimensions of aging in Serbia. Gerontology 2012; 2:61–79.
  19. National Institute on Aging (NIA) and U.S. Department of State. Why Population Aging Matters: A Global Perspective. National Institute on Aging of National Institutes on Health Publication 07-6134. Washington, DC: National Institute on Aging of National Institutes on Health, 2007.
  20. Jakovljevic MB. Health Expenditure Dynamics in Serbia 1995–2012. Hospital Pharmacology International Multidisciplinary Journal (2014) 1(3):180–183. doi:10.5937/hpimj1403180J.
  21. Republic Statistical Office. Population Projections of the Republic of Serbia, Data by Municipalities and Cities, 2011–2041. Belgrade: Republic Statistical Office, 2014.
  22. Arias E. United States Life Tables, 2009. National Vital Statistics Reports 62/7. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, 2014.
  23. Detailed mortality tables for the Republic of Serbia, 2021–2023. Available at https://popis2022.stat.gov.rs/srlatn/5-vestisaopstenja/news-events/20241216-detaljnetablice-mortaliteta/.
  24. Kohler HP, Francesco CB, Jose AO. The Emergence of Lowest-Low Fertility in Europe During the 1990s. Population and Development Review 2002; 28(4): 641–680. doi:10.1111/j.1728-4457.2002.00641.x.
  25. Caldwell JC, Olatunji O, Pat C. Fertility Decline in Africa: A New Type of Transition? Population and Development Review 1992; 18 (2): 211–242.
  26. Moultriu TA, Takudzwa SS, Ian MT. Birth Intervals, Postponement, and Fertility Decline in Africa: A New Type of Transition? Population Studies 2012; 66(3): 241–258. doi: 10.1080/00324728.2012.701660.
  27. Casterline JB, El-Zeini L. Unmet Need and Fertility Decline: A Comparative Perspective on Prospects in Sub-Saharan Africa. Studies in Family Planning 2014;45(2): 227–245. doi: 10.1111/j.1728-4465.2014.00386.x.
  28. GBD 2015 Maternal Mortality Collaborators. Global, regional, and national levels of maternal mortality, 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet. 2016; 8;388(10053):1775–1812. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31470-2.
  29. Kupiszewski M, Kupiszewska D, Nikitović V. The impact of demographic and migration flows on Serbia. International Organization for Migration, Mission in Belgrade, Project “Strengthening the capacity of the institutions of the Republic of Serbia for migration management and reintegration of returnees” Belgrade: Dosije studio, 2012.
  30. Stojilković J. The growth of the number of pensioners and the aging of the population in Serbia. Proceedings of the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SANU 2010; 61(2):69–85.
  31. Milovanovic O, Radevic S, Jovanovic M. Legal Framework and Retirement Policies in Serbia from 1990 to 2016 - Gendered Perspective. Front Public Health. 2016;4:208. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2016.00208
  32. Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division. World Population Ageing 2013. New York: United Nations, 2013.
  33. Lloyd-Sherlock, Peter, John Beard, Nadia Minicuci, Shah Ebrahim, and Somnath Chatterji. 2014. “Hypertension Among Older Adults in Low- and MiddleIncome Countries: Prevalence, Awareness and Control.” International Journal of Epidemiology 43/1: 116–128. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyt215.
  34. Lehnert, Thomas, Dirk Heider, Hanna Leicht, Sven Heinrich, Sandro Corrieri, Melanie Luppa, Stef Riedel-Heller, and Hans-Helmut Konig. 2011. “Review: Health Care Utilization and Costs of Elderly Persons With Multiple Chronic Conditions.” Medical Care Research and Review 68/4: 387–420. doi:10.1177/1077558711399580
  35. Jakovljevic M, Riegler A, Jovanovic M, Djordjevic N, Patek K, Lesch O, et al. Serbian and Austrian Alcohol-Dependent Patients: A Comparison of Two Samples Regarding Therapeutically Relevant Clinical Features. Alcohol Alcohol (2013) 48(4):505–8. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agt011
  36. UNDP. Millenium Development Goals. Available from: http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/mdgoverview/mdg_goals/mdg1.
  37. World Health Organization. Global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2020, Geneva: World Health Organization; 2013.
  38. Jakovljevic MB, Milovanovic O. Growing Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases in the Emerging Health Markets: The Case of BRICS. Front Public Health. 2015;23;3:65. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2015.00065
  39. GBD 2015 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 310 diseases and injuries, 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet. 2016;388(10053):1545–1602. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31678-6.
  40. Prince M, Wu F, Guo Y, Robledo ZLG, O’Donnell M, Sullivan R, Yusuf S. The burden of disease in older people and implications for health policy and practice. Lancet 2015; 385: 549–62. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61347-7.
  41. Jakovljevic M, Getzen T. Growth of Global Health Spending Share in Low and Middle Income Countries. Front Pharmacol 2016; 7:21. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00021.
  42. Ogura S, Jakovljevic M. Health financing constrained by population aging – an opportunity to learn from Japanese experience. Ser J Exp Clin Res 2014 15(4):175–181. doi:10.2478/SJECR20140022.
  43. Dimitrijev I, Radovanovic S, Vesic Z, Colakovic G, Selakovic V, Lackovic A, et al. Demographic and Socioeconomic Predictors of Prehypertension and Hypertension in the Adult Population: Serbian National Health Survey. Medicina (Kaunas). 2024;60(5):824. doi: 10.3390/medicina60050824. doi: 10.3390/medicina60050824.
  44. GBD 2015 SDG Collaborators. Measuring the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: a baseline analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet 2016; 388(10053):1813–1850. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31467-2.
  45. Domènech-Abella J, Lara E, Rubio-Valera M, Olaya B, Moneta MV, Rico-Uribe LA, et al. Loneliness and depression in the elderly: the role of social network. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2017. doi: 10.1007/s00127-017-1339-3.
  46. Cole MG, Dendukuri N. Risk factors for depression among elderly community subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Psychiatry 2003;160 (6):1147–56. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.160.6.1147.
  47. Blazer DG. Depression in late life: review and commentary. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2003;58(3):249–65. doi: 10.1093/gerona/58.3.m249.
  48. Simic V, Vukomanovic IS, Radevic S, Vukomanovic V, Djukic S, Darijan A, et al. Association between Sociodemographic Factors and Depressive Symptoms among Adult Population in Serbia. Iran J Public Health. 2024;53(4):867–877. doi: 10.18502/ijph.v53i4.15563.
  49. Đorđić M, Čolović S, Radovanović S, Radević S, Gajović G, Murić N, et al. The influence of social support on depression among elderly people in Serbia. EABR. Experimental and Applied Biomedical Research. 2024;25(1):13–9. doi: 10.2478/sjecr-2021-0051.
  50. Mirkovic A, Radevic S, Radovanovic S, Simic Vukomanovic I, Janicijevic K, Ilic S, et al. The impact of sociodemographic and health aspects on cognitive performance in the older adult population in the republic of Serbia. Front Public Health. 2024;12:1384056. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1384056.
  51. Knapp M, Chua KC, Broadbent M, Chang CK, Fernandez JL, Milea D, Romeo R, Lovestone S, Spencer M, Thompson G, Stewart R, Hayes RD. Predictors of care home and hospital admissions and their costs for older people with Alzheimer’s disease: findings from a large London case register. BMJ Open 2016 18;6(11):e013591. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013591.
  52. Djurovic N, Radovanovic S, Mihaljevic O, Radovanovic J, Stepovic M, Kovacevic M, et alV. Socioeconomic and Health Characteristics as Predictors of Social Support in Elderly People with Visual Impairment: Evidence from Serbia. Iran J Public Health. 2024;53(10):2251–2259. doi: 10.18502/ijph.v53i10.16702.
  53. Rudnicka E, Napierała P, Podfigurna A, Męczekalski B, Smolarczyk R, Grymowicz M. The World Health Organization (WHO) approach to healthy ageing. Maturitas. 2020 Sep; 139:6–11. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.05018.
  54. Marta P, Jakub H, Anna P, Kornelia KK, Agnieszka W. Can Well-Being, Positive Affect, or Contact with the Elderly Be Potential Predictors of Attitudes towards Older People? A Study on the Polish Population. Biomed Res Int. 2022;2022:9198970. doi: 10.1155/2022/9198970
  55. Lyons A, Alba B, Heywood W, Fileborn B, Minichiello V, Barrett C, Hinchliff S, Malta S, Dow B. Experiences of ageism and the mental health of older adults. Aging Ment Health. 2018;22(11):1456–1464. doi: 10.1080/136 07863.2017.1364347.
  56. Burnes D, Sheppard C, Henderson CR Jr, Wassel M, Cope R, Barber C, Pillemer K. Interventions to Reduce Ageism Against Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Public Health. 2019;109(8):e1–e9. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2019.305123.
  57. Chang ES, Kannoth S, Levy S, Wang SY, Lee JE, Levy BR. Global reach of ageism on older persons’ health: A systematic review. PLoS One. 2020;15(1):e0220857. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220857.
  58. Masse M, Meire P. L’âgisme, un concept pertinent pour penser les pratiques de soins aux personnes âgées ? [Is ageism a relevant concept for health care practice in the elderly?]. Geriatr Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil. 2012;10(3): 333–341. doi: 10.1684/pnv.2012.0364.
  59. Kang H, Kim H. Ageism and Psychological Well-Being Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review. Gerontol Geriatr Med. 2022;8:23337214221087023. doi: 10.1177/23337214221087023.
  60. Ayalon L, Dolberg P, Mikulionienė S, Perek-Białas J, Rapolienė G, Stypinska J, Willińska M, de la Fuente-Núñez V. A systematic review of existing ageism scales. Ageing Res Rev. 2019;54:100919. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2019.100919.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eabr-2025-0014 | Journal eISSN: 2956-2090 | Journal ISSN: 2956-0454
Language: English
Page range: 223 - 231
Submitted on: Apr 11, 2025
|
Accepted on: May 15, 2025
|
Published on: Feb 23, 2026
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2026 Viktor Selakovic, Sanja Ilic, Jovana Radovanovic, Milan Djordjic, Ermin Fetahovic, Olivera Djurovic, Milica Djokic Krstic, Natalija Djurovic, published by University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Medical Sciences
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.