Methodology

The Titchfield Group on Ageing statistics was created at the forty-ninth session of the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) in March 2018. The purpose of the group is to contribute to establishing international standards and methods for the compilation of statistics and data on the major dimensions of ageing and age-disaggregated data across the life cycle, and to collaborate with United Nations (UN) bodies and other organizations concerned with specific aspects of ageing and age statistics.

The overall objective of the Titchfield Group is to develop standardized tools and methods for producing both data disaggregated by age and ageing-related data, and encourage countries to do so, by playing a leading role in the development and communication of new standards and methodologies. The City Group will also address existing issues and deficits in data on ageing.

The Titchfield City Group conducted a comprehensive assessment of data related to 56 SDG indicators, focusing on five critical policy priorities for ageing and older persons: Health and Care; Financial Security; Violence, Abuse and Safety; Participation; and Enabling Environment. The Group’s analytical approach included three principal methods:

• i. A global review of data gaps across all countries using the UN Global SDG metadata repository.
• ii. A targeted survey of 13 national statistical offices (NSOs) from countries chosen to reflect diverse levels of development, regional locations, and demographic characteristics.
• iii. Three case studies, which included semi-structured interviews with NSO colleagues responsible for SDG reporting, offering a deeper understanding of the challenges and successes experienced at the national level.

The key findings of this report reveal a varied landscape in the use of age-disaggregated data. Self-reported data availability was reported for almost all the selected indicators for an average of 60% of countries worldwide, and for 69% of indicators in our survey. However, age-disaggregated data for older persons was only available for approximately one third of indicators in both our global review and our survey. Availability of age-disaggregated data was highest for indicators in the Health and Care policy priority and lowest for indicators in the Enabling Environment policy priority.

Examination of data underlying survey responses showed that the accessibility of age-disaggregated data to users was often lower than the self-reported availability of this data. With all but one exception, high-income countries showed higher rates compared with lower-income countries. While many countries employed harmonised data that aligned with international standards, this practice varied significantly across countries.

This report highlights five critical data policy recommendations to address the identified gaps and ensure that the needs of older persons are fully represented in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals:

1. Leverage diverse data sources: Expanding the use of administrative registers and census data can fill critical gaps, enable finer age-disaggregation, and provide more detailed insights into older populations.

2. Standardise data collection: Harmonising definitions and methodologies across countries is essential for consistent, reliable, and comparable age-disaggregated data.

3. Revise and enhance surveys: Modifying existing sample surveys will ensure that older age groups are accurately represented, capturing a fuller spectrum of their needs and experiences.

4. Invest in national statistical systems: Increased financial and technical support is crucial for strengthening the infrastructure needed to produce high-quality, disaggregated data.

5. Foster global collaboration: International partnerships and mutual learning will enhance data comparability and accessibility, supporting inclusive SDG implementation.

These improvements will not only enhance the comparability and accessibility of ageing-related data but also ensure that the global commitment to inclusivity and leaving no one behind is realised. By integrating these approaches, we can ensure that the SDG frameworks more accurately reflect the realities of ageing populations, thereby supporting more effective policy-making and sustainable development.