Lithuania urged to strengthen ageing policy and reduce loneliness among older adults

Lithuania’s state policy is insufficiently focused on the needs of an ageing population, leaving older adults with limited opportunities for employment, cultural engagement, and education, according to a new audit by the National Audit Office of Lithuania (Valstybės kontrolė).

The report, titled Promotion of Active Ageing, warns that without systemic changes, the country risks failing to support its rapidly growing elderly population. As of early this year, residents aged 60 and over make up 28.8% of Lithuania’s population—a share projected to rise to 43.5% by 2100.

Irena Segalovičienė, head of the National Audit Office, emphasised that ageing should be treated as a long-term reality requiring structural solutions, not a temporary crisis. “An older person must have real opportunities—not barriers—to remain in the labour market, learn, and contribute,” she stated. The audit outlines recommendations for transforming state policy to harness the potential of longevity while ensuring financial stability and personal autonomy.

Currently, only 14.1% of Lithuania’s pension-age residents remain employed. Legal age restrictions for certain professions, lack of flexible work arrangements, and insufficient state support for career transitions or pre-retirement preparation create significant obstacles. The audit also highlights that 34.5% of older adults report feeling lonely, yet most do not seek assistance.

Cultural and volunteer engagement could help combat isolation, but 40% of retirees participate in no activities at all. Enrolment in third-age university programs—designed for older learners—remained as low as 0.1–9.1% in 2024. Meanwhile, the social services system prioritises those who have already lost independence, while the shift to digital public services risks deepening exclusion for less tech-savvy seniors.

The National Audit Office has submitted targeted recommendations to relevant ministries, urging the Ministry of Social Security and Labour to develop a clear active-ageing policy, revisit age-based work restrictions, and expand access to lifelong learning, cultural participation, and in-person service alternatives. Measures to reduce loneliness and improve digital literacy were also proposed.