Over recent decades, Asia and the Pacific has experienced significant demographic changes. Rapid fertility and mortality reductions have occurred, while longevity has risen. In comparison to other world regions, the aforementioned changes have been particularly rapid, giving countries and societies little time to address the challenges and opportunities of population ageing. Older women outnumber older men which increases with age. Although older persons in Asia and the Pacific generally live with their family members, older women more frequently live alone. They often continue to provide unpaid care for family members, including for other older persons, though this is often not recognized by society. Hence, older women face challenges balancing work in the home and the labor market and maintaining adequate living standards. This is especially so when they work in the informal sector, with limited social protection and labor law coverage. The situation is complicated by the limited scope and benefit levels of pension schemes in many countries of the region. With rising life expectancy, older persons are more likely to be affected by disability. Given compounding vulnerabilities, such older persons face significant barriers to full and effective participation in society. The increasing number of older persons with impairments, especially older women, has augmented demand for health and long-term care. Although there is great potential to enhance the socioeconomic circumstances of older persons through information and communication technology, access is uneven across the region. In this domain and many others, countries can learn from each other and put in place forward-looking policies to address the needs of older persons now and in the future. At the recently held Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on the Fourth Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) member States committed to accelerate the implementation of the Madrid Plan of Action in the region.