China’s capital, Beijing, is projected to become a “super-aged” city by 2035, with approximately one-third of its population expected to be aged 60 and above, according to a report by the official Beijing Daily.
The newspaper reported on Saturday that the proportion of elderly residents in the city is expected to rise significantly over the coming years, reflecting China’s rapidly ageing population and declining birth rate.
At the end of last year, Beijing had 5.29 million permanent residents aged 60 and above, representing nearly one-quarter of its total population, the report said.
In response to the growing number of elderly residents, the Beijing municipal government is expanding support measures, including increasing basic pension benefits to address the needs of its ageing population.
China’s demographic challenges have become a major concern for policymakers, who are seeking to encourage childbirth and sustain long-term economic growth.
The government faces an estimated potential cost of 180 billion yuan, equivalent to $26.92 billion, this year to promote births, according to Reuters estimates.
China’s population has been declining since 2022, while its rapidly ageing society is putting increasing pressure on the workforce, pension systems and public finances.
With hundreds of millions of people expected to leave the workforce, the country faces the challenge of supporting a growing elderly population while maintaining economic productivity and controlling rising debt.
Demographers and economists have also warned that declining birth rates could lead to fewer households in the future, potentially slowing domestic consumption and weakening a key driver of economic growth.
The demographic shift presents a significant challenge for Chinese authorities as they seek to balance the costs of caring for older citizens with efforts to stimulate household spending and strengthen the economy.
