The aging population issue in China is becoming increasingly severe, with official statistics showing that nearly 60% of the population aged 60 and above are “empty nesters,” which is concerning. This situation highlights the dual pressure that Chinese society faces in terms of elderly care and youth employment.
Recently, the “Basic Data Bulletin of the Fifth National Survey on the Living Conditions of Elderly People in Urban and Rural Areas of China” was released. The fifth survey showed that in 2021, 80.0% of elderly people in China reported having chronic diseases, with little difference between urban and rural areas.
The above-mentioned bulletin is based on the fifth national survey on the living conditions of urban and rural elderly people conducted by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the Communist Party of China, the National Ageing Office, the National Health Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the China Ageing Association, and the China Family Planning Association since 2021.
In terms of health and medical conditions, the fifth survey revealed that in 2021, the three most common chronic diseases among elderly people in China were hypertension (41.6%), lumbar spondylosis (23.1%), and arthritis (22.1%).
The results of the fifth survey show that as of 2021, approximately 60% of the population aged 60 and above in mainland China are empty nesters.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post on October 22, the proportion has increased by around ten percentage points over the past decade, and the majority of elderly people cannot afford the costs of nursing homes. Among those willing to live in nursing homes, only about half can afford the monthly cost of 1000 yuan. However, in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, the monthly fees charged by relevant elderly care institutions usually exceed 5000 yuan.
Yi Fuxian, a demographer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a commentator for Radio Free Asia, mentioned that the aging issue in China is a “serious consequence of the one-child policy,” and in a society where people are “getting old before getting rich,” it is quite “unsolvable and helpless,” especially for elderly people in rural areas.
The survey shows that nearly half of the elderly people can only afford nursing homes that cost less than a thousand yuan per month. In 2021, among elderly people willing to reside in nursing facilities, 46.1% can afford up to 1000 yuan per month, 22.6% can afford 1000-1999 yuan per month, 15.6% can afford 2000-2999 yuan per month, and 15.8% can afford 3000 yuan or more per month.
With declining birth rates, a decreasing young population, and difficulties in employment, the issue of elderly care in China is becoming more prominent. While most elderly people rely on pensions as their main source of income, the national pension fund is expected to be depleted by 2035.
Experts point out that not only do elderly people face difficulties in making ends meet, but young people also face tremendous pressure in supporting their elders, putting China in a dual dilemma.
Karen Hardee, President of Hardee Associates consulting firm and a senior researcher at the Population Reference Bureau, stated that China’s one-child policy has led to smaller family sizes. Currently, as young people struggle to find jobs while taking care of the elderly, the traditional notion that “97% of elderly people rely on family or community services with only 3% in nursing homes” is facing significant challenges.
In response to this pressing issue, the Communist Party of China announced in September of this year that the retirement age will gradually be raised from 2025, with men being extended up to 63 years old and women up to a maximum of 58 years old.
However, Hardee noted that the current real estate crisis in China still heavily relies on local governments providing loans to help acquire surplus housing. Whether local governments have enough funds to implement central policies and provide social security remains a big question mark.
Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping replied to representatives of elderly volunteers participating in the “Silver Age Action,” stating that the initiative aims to encourage Chinese elderly people to engage in volunteer work.
In regards to whether the Communist government can strengthen its existing social welfare policies and fulfill the elderly support role, political commentator Cai Shenkun believes that although the current system is not perfect, if the government can subsidize nursing homes and charge fees based on income levels, it may help address the current life problems of the elderly.