Demography should become the foundation of public policy: Jrbashyan explains how Armenia is preparing for an aging population
26.06.2026,
12:10
Demographic data should become an integral part of public policy, as it enables decision-making based on an understanding of human behavior and long-term societal development trends.
YEREVAN, June 26. /ARKA/. Demographic data should become an integral part of public policy, as it enables decision-making based on an understanding of human behavior and long-term societal development trends. This was stated by Tigran Jrbashyan, Director of Management Consulting at Ameria, speaking at a business forum dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB).
According to him, although politicians around the world increasingly talk about a people-centered approach and human capital development, in practice, such policies cannot be implemented without a deep understanding of demographic processes.
"When it comes to human capital, the topic of demography inevitably arises. Demographics is people, their behavior, their perceptions of the future, and the data that allows us to predict the further development of society," Jrbashyan said.
He recalled that the development of Armenia's Demographic Strategy began in 2021 and lasted nearly two years. During this time, extensive analytical work was conducted to study the causes of demographic change, the impact of urbanization, industrialization, healthcare, food security, and other factors on population behavior.
Jrbashyan noted that one of the key analytical tools was research into National Transfer Accounts, which allows for assessing the distribution of consumption and government spending by age and gender. Furthermore, Armenia is one of the few countries in the world to fully implement the National Time Transfer Accounts methodology, based on time-use studies.
"This tool allows us to estimate the economic value of unpaid labor, much of which is performed by women. In Armenia, the care economy is actually one of the largest sectors of the economy, but in many countries in the region, its true scale is still underestimated," the expert said.
According to Jrbashyan, when developing public policy, it is important to consider the fundamentally different demographic trends in countries in the region. "There are countries with aging populations, such as Armenia, Russia, and, to a certain extent, Kazakhstan. At the same time, there are countries experiencing a demographic dividend, such as Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. These are completely different societies, requiring different approaches to public policy and investment," he noted.
The expert expressed the opinion that international organizations are not yet sufficiently taking these differences into account when implementing their programs.
"The integration of demographic data into government decision-making must become mandatory. Today, all our countries face serious demographic challenges, and without taking these factors into account, it is impossible to develop effective long-term policies," Jrbashyan emphasized.
Speaking about the initial results of the implementation of Armenia's Demographic Strategy, adopted in 2024, he noted that certain provisions had already begun to be implemented before the document was officially approved.
According to him, the strategy is built around four key areas: supporting families and fertility, reducing premature mortality and preserving human capital, promoting active aging, and improving migration policy.
"It's important not only to ensure the 'birth' of new human capital, but also to maintain people's health throughout their lives and create conditions in which the elderly population can remain active and continue to create added value for the economy," Jrbashyan stated.
He also emphasized that issues of immigration, emigration, and changing migration flows are strategically important for Armenia in terms of preserving and developing human capital.
ARKA News Agency is the media partner of the business forum.
According to him, although politicians around the world increasingly talk about a people-centered approach and human capital development, in practice, such policies cannot be implemented without a deep understanding of demographic processes.
"When it comes to human capital, the topic of demography inevitably arises. Demographics is people, their behavior, their perceptions of the future, and the data that allows us to predict the further development of society," Jrbashyan said.
He recalled that the development of Armenia's Demographic Strategy began in 2021 and lasted nearly two years. During this time, extensive analytical work was conducted to study the causes of demographic change, the impact of urbanization, industrialization, healthcare, food security, and other factors on population behavior.
Jrbashyan noted that one of the key analytical tools was research into National Transfer Accounts, which allows for assessing the distribution of consumption and government spending by age and gender. Furthermore, Armenia is one of the few countries in the world to fully implement the National Time Transfer Accounts methodology, based on time-use studies.
"This tool allows us to estimate the economic value of unpaid labor, much of which is performed by women. In Armenia, the care economy is actually one of the largest sectors of the economy, but in many countries in the region, its true scale is still underestimated," the expert said.
According to Jrbashyan, when developing public policy, it is important to consider the fundamentally different demographic trends in countries in the region. "There are countries with aging populations, such as Armenia, Russia, and, to a certain extent, Kazakhstan. At the same time, there are countries experiencing a demographic dividend, such as Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. These are completely different societies, requiring different approaches to public policy and investment," he noted.
The expert expressed the opinion that international organizations are not yet sufficiently taking these differences into account when implementing their programs.
"The integration of demographic data into government decision-making must become mandatory. Today, all our countries face serious demographic challenges, and without taking these factors into account, it is impossible to develop effective long-term policies," Jrbashyan emphasized.
Speaking about the initial results of the implementation of Armenia's Demographic Strategy, adopted in 2024, he noted that certain provisions had already begun to be implemented before the document was officially approved.
According to him, the strategy is built around four key areas: supporting families and fertility, reducing premature mortality and preserving human capital, promoting active aging, and improving migration policy.
"It's important not only to ensure the 'birth' of new human capital, but also to maintain people's health throughout their lives and create conditions in which the elderly population can remain active and continue to create added value for the economy," Jrbashyan stated.
He also emphasized that issues of immigration, emigration, and changing migration flows are strategically important for Armenia in terms of preserving and developing human capital.
ARKA News Agency is the media partner of the business forum.
