The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) drawn up at the Second World Assembly on Ageing in 2002 outlined a global agenda to deal with the issues of elderly populations. The Plan of Action on Ageing called for a new approach to policies and programmes for older persons in the wake of the demographic changes  experienced in countries all over the world. Many regions of the world have witnessed a rapid increase in life expectancy and as a result a phenomenal growth of their populations during the second half of the last century. The increase has been greatest and most rapid in developing countries where the older population is expected to quadruple during the next 50 years.The challenges facing the governments of these countries to meet the basic needs of older persons such as social security, health and well-being and ensuring supportive environments as envisaged in the Plan of Action, will be evident in the years to come. Therefore, taking note of demographic conditions and the status of ageing is an integral part of the Plan of Action. Its need has been acknowledged worldwide as a prerequisite to put the Plan of Action on Ageing into action.The present report has been prepared to analyse the ageing phenomenon in the context of the demographic changes in the region, and to consider itsimplications on the development process in the context of MIPAA.