Beijing's population expected to become super-aged by 2035

The Chinese capital Beijing is expected to become “super-aged” by 2035, with around one-third of its population aged 60 and above, the official Beijing Daily reported on Saturday.

The city government is stepping up support for elderly residents, including raising the basic pension, the report said.

How many people in Beijing are aged 60 and above?

Beijing had 5.29 million permanent residents aged 60 and above at the end of last year, almost one-quarter of its population, the newspaper said. By 2035, one in every three residents of the capital will be in that age group, the Beijing Daily reported.

Why does a super-aged Beijing matter for China’s economy?

China’s population has been shrinking since 2022 and is ageing rapidly, complicating government plans to boost domestic consumption and rein in debt. Hundreds of millions of people are set to leave the workforce at a time when pension budgets are already stretched.

Demographers and economists argue that fewer children today could mean fewer households and slower consumption growth over time. Chinese policymakers have made population planning a key part of the country’s economic strategy. This year the government faces a total potential cost of around 180 billion yuan ($26.92 billion) to boost births, according to Reuters estimates.