Beijing facing rapid population aging by 2035

Beijing is transitioning into a "super-aged" society, with projections from the Beijing Daily indicating that one in three residents of the Chinese capital will be aged 60 or older by 2035. As of the end of last year, the city recorded 5.29 million permanent residents in this demographic, accounting for nearly one-quarter of the total population.

To address these demographic challenges, local authorities have strengthened support measures, including the implementation of minimum pension increases. This shift occurs against the backdrop of a national decline in China’s total population, which has been shrinking since 2022. The rapid aging process is expected to exert significant pressure on the government's budget, particularly regarding pension funds, while simultaneously reducing the size of the available workforce as millions of citizens reach retirement age.

In response to these systemic demographic trends, the central government has initiated a series of interventions and financial incentives aimed at encouraging families to have more children to combat low birth rates and sustain the national economy.