Transition to Aging in Muslim Countries: Trends and Policy Implications

The aim of this paper is to examine the timing of the transition to aging in the context of fertility transition and its effects and consequences in 47 Muslim majority countries. Data are taken from the United Nations Population Division database. Results indicate that Muslim majority countries, except Kuwait, have experienced different fertility levels but similar trends during the period 2010-1990. According to this study, population aging will be the dominant demographic phenomenon in most Muslim majority countries in the mid 21th century. However, the results show differences in the timing of transition to aging among these countries. Findings strongly suggest that aging is largely influenced by the severity of fertility decline during the fertility transition period. Since, from among those Muslim majority countries which experienced fertility at or below replacement level, there is no comprehensive population policy to deal with the consequences of low fertility and population aging in the future, and due to the fact that policy making for the elderly demands time, it seems that adopting a comprehensive population policy in these countries to regulate the issues of the elderly population in the near future is necessary.