China’s families are now supporting more old people than kids
Families in China are now supporting more elderly people than children, the government has said.
In China, families are now supporting a greater number of elderly people than children, according to government data released last week. The dependency ratio, which measures the proportion of elderly people supported by working-age individuals, rose to 23% in the past year. This marked a significant milestone as it surpassed the 22% ratio for children.
Analysts say the shift highlights the challenges China faces with an ageing population, which could impact pensions, healthcare spending, and the workforce. China has been preparing for a growing elderly population for years, while urging younger generations to have more children. As of now, over 223 million people in China are aged 65 and above, accounting for nearly 16% of the total population.
Meanwhile, about 213 million children are aged 14 and under. The shift could strain pension, healthcare, and long-term care systems, but also create opportunities in the silver economy catering to older consumers.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
