China will become an over-aged country in 2035 and people over 65 years of age will represent more than 20% of the population, local specialists warned while advocating for optimizing social security.
According to the Global Times newspaper, analysts indicated that this group constitutes 14% of the 1,412.6 million inhabitants of the Asian giant and the accelerated pace of aging could result in more deaths than births by 2022.
In highlighting the impact on socioeconomic development, the experts explained that in 2020 there were almost six young people to guarantee the livelihood of an elderly person, but in 2050 this rate could drop to 1,3.
They also insisted on improving the social security system as inadequate, unbalanced and with problems in including the entire rural population.
Although China is still the world’s most populous nation, last year it only had 480 million citizens on the mainland, 10,62 million babies were born, 10,14 million deaths and five million fewer women of childbearing age.
These figures set off alarm bells because they show the country’s approaching demographic decline and, in an effort to reverse the situation, the government has further relaxed its family planning policy and now allows couples to have up to a third child.
Prensa Latina
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