Report predicts Taiwan to become “super-aged” society next year

TAIPEI, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) — Taiwan will become a “super-aged” society by 2025, with one in five residents expected to be over the age of 65, said the island’s development planning department on Thursday.
By 2030, the island’s total population is expected to fall below 23 million, and by 2039, the proportion of people aged 65 and above will exceed 30 percent of the total population, according to a report released by the department.
The report predicted that by 2028, the working-age population will make up less than two-thirds of the total population, signaling the end of the demographic dividend in Taiwan.
According to the World Health Organization, a society is considered “aged” when those aged 65 and above account for 14 percent of the total population, and “super-aged” when the proportion exceeds 20 percent. Taiwan entered the “aged” category in 2018.
Statistics from the island’s internal affairs department show that by the end of August, seven of Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities had entered the “super-aged” category.
An aging population has already led to multiple societal issues, such as labor shortages, declining school enrollments, and increased healthcare costs.
The development planning department suggested in the report that, to adapt to these demographic changes, efforts should focus on improving childcare subsidies, increasing labor force participation among middle-aged individuals and women, attracting talent, enhancing medical services, and upgrading industries. ■