Global Report on Ageism

The Global Report on Ageism is a seminal publication produced jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Representing the first global initiative of its kind, the report outlines a comprehensive framework for understanding, measuring, and combating ageism—defined as the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel), and discrimination (how we act) directed towards individuals based on their age. The document details the widespread nature of ageism across institutions, laws, policies, and interpersonal relations, highlighting its severe detrimental impacts on physical and mental health, longevity, economic security, and overall quality of life for both older and younger populations. Crucially, the report outlines three evidence-based strategies to tackle ageism: policy and law reform, educational interventions across all educational levels, and intergenerational contact activities. Serving as an essential open-access reference, this resource is indispensable for scholars, students, health professionals, social workers, human rights advocates, and policymakers in gerontology, public health, sociology, and public policy.