Chinese families now have to support more elderly people than children

In China, there are now more elderly people supported by families than children, according to recent government data. For every 100 working-age adults, there are 23 elderly and 22 children. The elderly population, aged 65 and over, constitutes 16% of the total population, amounting to 223 million, while there are 213 million minors aged 14 and younger. Despite being the world's second most populous country, China faces rapid aging and a declining population since 2022. Projections indicate that by 2033, the number of people over 60 will exceed 400 million, approaching 500 million by 2050. In response to demographic changes, China has gradually altered its family policies, allowing for more children since 2013. However, high youth unemployment and rising living costs have deterred many couples from having children. Japan faces similar challenges, with a significant portion of its population also aging rapidly.