There are now more people over the age of 65 in China than there are children under the age of 15 — The Independent
China's National Bureau of Statistics has recorded a demographic shift: for the first time since records began more than 70 years ago, the number of citizens aged 65 and older has exceeded the number of children under 15.
The Independent reports on this.
Official data confirms that older adults now account for at least 15.87% of China’s nearly 1.4 billion population, while the 0- to 14-year-old age group accounts for only 15.25%.
According to the results of a nationwide sample survey, there are approximately 223.09 million people in the 65-and-older age group.
At the same time, the broader category of citizens aged 60 and older numbers about 321.22 million people, accounting for 22.86% of the country’s total population.
China’s primary working-age population remains the 869.87 million people aged 15–59, who account for 61.89% of the demographic structure.
These statistics were extrapolated from a large-scale “mini-census” conducted in November, which covered over 20 million respondents.
The published figures clearly illustrate the rapid aging of society, which, according to the UN classification, is considered “aging” if the proportion of people aged 65 and older exceeds 14%.
The crisis is deepening due to record-low birth rates, which fell to 7.92 million newborns in 2025.
Last year, China’s total population decreased by 3.39 million people, marking the fourth consecutive annual decline.
The demographic decline is driven by the consequences of the strict “one-child policy,” which was in effect from 1980 to 2015, as well as rapid urbanization.
Experts note that the high cost of raising children, expensive educational services, instability in the labor market, and a general slowdown in economic growth are forcing young Chinese people to forego starting families.
To address the situation, Beijing has announced a large-scale program to build a “birth-friendly society” for the period from 2026 to 2030.
The comprehensive plan includes expanding financial subsidies, improving medical care for pregnant women, and creating a developed infrastructure for young families.
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