It is based on an assessment of government action in the three domains of policy and legislation, data and research, and institutional arrangements adopted and/or modified since 2002. It is also based on two major review exercises to collect information on policies and legislation, data and research, and institutional arrangements on ageing/older persons in general for as many countries as possible and; on policies and legislation and data on ageing according to recommendations made in the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing for a sample of 32 countries from all regions.