Psychiatric problems among the elderly in Malaysia.

The rate of growth among the world's elderly population is reflected by the fact that while the total world population would have increased by 26% between 1980 and 2000, the rate of population growth over 65 years of age would have increased by more than 35%. "While the elderly population of the developed countries would have increased by 29.4% in the 20 yeatS 1980 to 2000, that of the developing countries would have increased by 77W. In 1970, only 3.7% of the population in Malaysia was 60 years and above. In the year 2020, this population would have increased to 7% and would comprise 2.1 million of the estimated population of 29.5 million. Factors cOiltributing to the ageing of the population are the decline in mortality rates, the changes in life expectancy which has increased to 69 years for men and 72 years for women in 1990 and the declining fertility rate due to increased literacy, improvements in quality of life and public health and awareness of family planning methods including abortions and sterilisations. The problems of the ageing population will affect both the developed and developing countries.