Acquiring up-to-date statistics and information about older people is extremely important to the NCA as it will often direct future activities.

The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) will regularly publish labour force surveys with information relating to the number of older people in Belize, their gender and location in the Districts.

For example the most recent statistics

Table showing percentage distribution of Elderly Population by district and sex:

District	Total (%)	Male (%)	Female (%)
Country	(7.3)	7.5	7.1
Corozal	7.3	(8.2)	6.5
Orange Walk	7.3	(7.9)	6.8
Belize	(8.1)	7.7	(8.4)
Stann Creek	(8.2)	(7.8)	(8.7)
Cayo	7.1	7.6	6.5
Toledo	(4.2)	4.6	(3.8)

 Mid Year 2007 Population Statistics

• Population of Belize:  311,480 people
• Older Persons 60 years : 21,285 or 6.6%
• Male Persons over 60yrs: 10,945
• Female Persons over 60yrs: 10,340
  
• Population under 30yrs:      203,985 or 64.6%
• Population under 35 yrs:     224,050 or 71.8%

Research carried out by NCA

• Research Study 1
  In 2007 a small survey of 50 people living in the Cayo District (Belmopan City and several of the surrounding villages) was carried out by a University of Belize social work student to illicit information relating to the lifestyles of older persons in receipt of various benefits provided to them namely Social Assistance from the Ministry of Human Development / Belize Social Security Board of $40.00BZ per month: the Non-Contributory Pension for Women aged 65 plus of $75.00 per month and certain older persons receiving retirement pensions or a much larger amount.
  
  The findings determined that the older people receiving benefits of $40 - $75.00 found it extremely difficult to live a good healthy life and afford adequate food and medication.  This was particularly difficult when living alone with no family support.
  
  For those older people that suffered from any medical condition that required regular purchases of medication and diagnostic treatment, all benefits, even the retirement pension, were depleted very quickly resulting in the situation that these older people found it difficult to adequately manage their finances to afford their basic needs.
  
  
• Research Study 2
  A study is currently being conducted, again by a University of Belize Social Work student, into the needs of abandoned older men and women in the 4 villages of Roaring Creek, Camalote, Teakettle and Blackman Eddy along the Western Highway. The information collected will be shared with the village councils with a view to increasing community spirit and action by villagers to provide care for the most needy.  The waiting lists for residential accommodation is long and so in an effort to alleviate the demand for beds, communities may come up with solutions, even to the extent of constructing small community houses to service individuals and keep them safe within the community.