For the first time, elderly dependents outnumber children in China

For the first time in China, the number of elderly dependents has surpassed the number of children

October 28

As China's birth rate has declined significantly and the elderly population has rapidly increased, the dependency ratio for supporting people aged 65 and over has, for the first time, surpassed the ratio for caring for young children.

According to data from China's National Bureau of Statistics, in 2025 the population aged 65 and over exceeded 223 million, while the population of children aged 14 and under was only around 213 million.

The old-age dependency ratio, calculated against the working-age population, stands at 23.1 percent, surpassing the child dependency ratio of 22 percent for the first time.

China's population declined for a fourth consecutive year in 2025, and the birth rate reached a record low. The one-child policy enforced from 1980 to 2015 and rapidly changing urban lifestyles are among the reasons for the declining birth rate.

To address this situation, Chinese authorities have been stepping up measures encouraging people to marry and have children.

These include providing family subsidies, arranging childcare services and reducing maternity costs, as well as programs said to provide full support to make urban life more comfortable for young people and families.

Ref & Photo: The Reuters

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