subject: China's Aging Population Situation [print this page] According to the end of November 2000 the fifth national census showed that people over the age of 65 has reached 88.11 million,which is 6.69% of the total population .There are 1.3 billion people that beyond 60 years old, about 10.2% of the total population. In accordance with the definition of an aging society, that is 60 years the proportion of the total population of more than 10%, or over 65 years the proportion of the total population of 7%. So early in the year 2000, China has begun to enter the old society.
why is there such a problem arise
Population aging arises from two (possibly related) demographic effects: increasing longevity and declining fertility. An increase in longevity rises the average age of the population by increasing the numbers of surviving older people. A decline in fertility reduces the number of babies, and as the effect continues, the numbers of younger people in general also reduce. A possible third factor is migration.
These are root causes, however, every country has own factors to pose aging problem. In China, the one of reasons is family planning. In order to control the rapid population growth, reduce population pressure caused by economic and social development, since the 80's last century, the country's basic national policy of family planning, thus greatly reducing the fertility level of the whole society. And during the initial post-liberation period, the Chinese had a "baby boom". Every family wants to have children. It is common that our or five children, five or six. These children now have moved into old team, so the elderly have the possibility of further rapid increase.
On the other hand, the economic growth quickly, scientific and technological progress, the improvement of people's medical conditions and living standards improve, so that human health and longevity have made remarkable achievements, greatly extended life expectancy.
Of these two forces, the proportion of young population reduced. The final, proportion of elderly population grow. That is aging society.
