Based on the table, we can find that from 2000 to 2020, the number of people aged 65 and above increased drastically from 88.1 million to 190.6 million, with the proportion rising from 6.96 % to 13.50%. Moreover, it is predicted that amount of those seniors will be 230.1 million in 2030 and 337.6 million in 2050 and the proportion will reach 17.07 % and then stand at 25.76%. The statistics reveal the aging of population is becoming increasingly severe in China.
What exactly contributes to this phenomenon? For one thing, with the implementation of China's family planning policy, the birth rate has dramatically dropped, which results in alower proportion of youngsters. For another, with the improvement of medical services, people can be more likely to enjoy a longer life and the mortality rate has thus been reduced, which also prompts the population aging.
In recent years, many studies warn that population aging is likely to bring some undesirable consequences in the future. Hence, it is high time that we figured some ways out to face the upcoming challenges.
