China to adopt policies for aging population, try to boost birth rates
China will “actively” respond to population aging with policies for its rapidly growing elderly and its young people, including providing childcare subsidies and making preschool education free, as it tries to boost the country’s declining population.
China’s population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024, as marriages plummeted by one-fifth, the biggest drop on record, despite efforts by authorities to encourage young couples to wed and have children.
Rapid aging has become a growing concern in the world’s second-largest economy with the number of those aged 60 and older expected to rise at least 40% to more than 400 million by 2035, equal to the populations of Britain and the United States combined.
China raised its retirement age for men to 63 years from 60, while for women in white collar work it was raised to 58 years from 55. For women in blue collar work it was increased to 55 from 50. The changes came into effect on January 1 and are to be implemented over a 15 year period.
