China’s capital, Beijing, is expected to become a “super-aged” city by 2035, with around one-third of its population aged 60 and above, according to state-run Beijing Daily.
The newspaper reported on Saturday that Beijing had 5.29 million permanent residents aged 60 and above at the end of last year, accounting for almost a quarter of the city’s population.
The city government is stepping up support for its elderly population, including increasing basic pension payments, the report added.
China’s rapidly ageing population has become a major challenge for policymakers, particularly as the country’s population has been shrinking since 2022.
The demographic shift is complicating efforts to boost domestic consumption and rein in debt, with hundreds of millions of people expected to leave the workforce as pension budgets come under increasing pressure.
Demographers and economists have also warned that declining birth rates could lead to fewer households and slower consumption growth in the years ahead.
China has made population planning a key part of its economic strategy. According to Reuters estimates, the government could face a potential cost of around 180 billion yuan (US$26.92 billion) this year to encourage more births.
