What We Learned: Treasure What You Measure—Why Better Data Matters for Older Persons
- Emily Trask
- Jul 17
- 4 min read
At first glance, data may seem like an unlikely topic for a passionate discussion about aging and confronting ageism. But as participants in this official side event of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), “Treasure What You Measure: Older Persons and Data,” quickly demonstrated, the data we collect—or fail to collect—shapes the policies we create, the resources we allocate, and ultimately whose lives we value.
The discussion brought together global leaders in aging, statistics, labor, and public policy to examine a critical question:
How can we build a world that supports healthy, dignified aging if older adults remain invisible in the data?
The answer, speakers agreed, begins with making older people visible—not only in statistics, but in every conversation about sustainable development.
If Older Adults Aren’t Counted, They’re Invisible
Jack Kupferman, representing the Stakeholder Group on Aging and Gray Panthers NYC, which is a a UN-accredited NGO within the ECOSOC umbrella, opened the discussion with a simple but powerful premise:
We treasure what we measure.
Data is never neutral. Governments use it to determine priorities, allocate funding, and measure progress. When older adults are grouped into overly broad age categories—or excluded altogether—their needs, experiences, and contributions disappear from public policy.
Jack highlighted the groundbreaking work of the Titchfield City Group on Ageing and Age-Disaggregated Data, which has helped countries improve how they collect and report aging-related statistics. He also pointed toward the 2026 World Data Forum as an important opportunity to continue advancing global standards for age-inclusive data.
Without reliable data, policymakers cannot fully understand issues such as health disparities, economic insecurity, caregiving, digital inclusion, housing, or social participation among older adults.
Aging Must Be Part of Every Sustainable Development Goal
Aliye Moosad of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) shared encouraging progress from recent Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) submitted by member states.
More countries are acknowledging population aging than ever before.
But significant gaps remain.
Too often, aging is discussed only within the context of pensions, healthcare, or social protection. Speakers emphasized that aging should be integrated across every Sustainable Development Goal—from transportation and climate resilience to housing, technology, employment, education, and community development.
Older adults are not a separate population to be served at the margins.
They are part of every community, every economy, and every solution.
Older Adults Are Contributors—Not Just Care Recipients
One of the strongest themes throughout the webinar was the need to shift how we think about aging.
Dr. Peter Ochieng of Kenya’s Ministry of Labor and Social Protection shared how Kenya’s Enhanced Single Registry is helping government agencies better understand older populations and deliver services more effectively.
Rather than treating older adults solely as recipients of assistance, Kenya is building systems that recognize their continued participation in families, communities, and society.
Rafael Diez de Medina of the International Labour Organization expanded on this idea by challenging traditional labor statistics.
Many older adults continue contributing through:
Paid employment
Self-employment
Volunteer work
Grandparent caregiving
Informal labor
Community leadership
Mentoring younger generations
Yet much of this work goes uncounted because existing labor statistics focus primarily on formal employment.
If we fail to measure these contributions, we underestimate both the economic and social value older adults provide every day.
Better Data Means Better Policy
Several speakers emphasized that collecting better data requires asking better questions, not just adding more spreadsheets or surveys.
Francesca Perucci of Open Data Watch encouraged governments to move beyond simple age breakdowns and embrace more inclusive, intersectional approaches that recognize how age interacts with disability, gender, geography, income, race, and other factors.
She also highlighted the value of administrative records and citizen-generated data to fill gaps that traditional surveys often miss.
Kristen Jeffers of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) reminded attendees that improving aging data is ultimately a political challenge—not just a technical one.
Statisticians can collect excellent data, but unless policymakers use that information to shape legislation and investment, little changes.
Data must become a bridge between evidence and action.
Measuring Well-Being Requires New Metrics
Several panelists argued that traditional economic indicators, particularly Gross Domestic Product (GDP), tell only part of the story.
As populations age, societies need broader measures that capture:
Health and quality of life
Independence and autonomy
Social participation
Caregiving
Community connection
Human dignity
These “Beyond GDP” approaches recognize that thriving communities cannot be measured solely through economic output.
A society that supports older adults is stronger for everyone.
Looking Ahead
The conversation concluded with a series of commitments to continue advancing age-inclusive data worldwide.
Among the next steps are:
Developing a dedicated aging panel for the 2026 World Data Forum in Riyadh.
Integrating aging more fully into the global Beyond 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Strengthening data collection during upcoming reviews of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA).
Using stronger evidence to support development of a future United Nations Convention on the Rights of Older Persons.
These initiatives represent an important shift from simply acknowledging population aging to actively designing policies that reflect demographic reality.
Final Thoughts
The webinar closed with a reminder that data is about far more than numbers.
It is about visibility.
It is about dignity.
It is about ensuring that older adults are recognized not only for the support they may need, but for the wisdom, labor, caregiving, leadership, and community they continue to provide.
As populations age around the world, one message stood above all the rest:
If we don’t measure older adults, we can’t serve them well.
And if we truly treasure every generation, then we must begin by making every generation visible.
