According to the criteria set by the United Nations in Population aging and its socio-economic consequences in 1956, when the number of people aged 65 and over in a country or region exceeds 7% of the total population, it means that the country or region is aging. In 1982, the world congress on ageing in Vienna determined that when the proportion of the population aged 60 and over exceeded 10 per cent, it meant a serious ageing of the country or region.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China, China's population aging problem has become more serious in recent years.
The following data will show China's population age structure and aging in 2007-2016.
Chart- 1
In 2016, the population between 0 and 14 years old in China was 230.91 million; in 2016, the population between 15 and 64 years old in China was 1002.46 million; and in 2016, the population over 65 years old in China was 149.33 million.
Chart - 2
From 2007 to 2011, the population between 0 and 14 years old in China decreased year by year. The number of people aged 0-14 reached its lowest level in nearly a decade in 2011, at 222.31 million. From 2007 to 2016, the population aged 15-64 increased year by year. The number of people aged 65 and above has increased year by year in the last decade. In 2016, the number of people aged 65 and above in China reached the highest level in the last decade, reaching 149.33 million.
Chart - 3
In 2016, China's total dependency ratio was 37.9%, 22.9% for young children and 15.0% for old people. The ratio of child support in China has fluctuated in the past decade, while the ratio of elderly support has increased year by year.
It is predicted that in 2025, China's population over 60 will reach 300 million, accounting for 21%, and the proportion over 65 will reach 13.7%, approaching a deep aging society.
The change of China's population age structure indicates that with China's rapid economic and social development, medical and health care career made great improvement, fertility rate remains low and the aging process gradually speed up.
But aging also poses a number of problems. China's aging society is characterized by a large population base, rapid growth, aging, disability and empty nest. In addition, the situation of the elderly before they get rich and the superposition of family miniaturization structure make the pension problem extremely serious.
The severity of China's aging population requires urgent measures to deal with it. In 2017, China announced a new policy: allowing families to have two children. This is the consideration of the country to deal with the aging problem, but the social pension system reform aiming at sustainability is still the key to alleviate the aging problem.
Data source: National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China
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