Beijing is projected to reach “super-aged” status by 2035, with approximately one-third of the Chinese capital’s permanent residents aged 60 and older, according to the official Beijing Daily. The projection highlights the rapid pace of demographic aging in China’s major urban centers as the nation grapples with a shrinking national population and mounting economic challenges.
According to figures cited by the newspaper, Beijing already had 5.29 million permanent residents aged 60 and above at the close of last year, accounting for nearly a quarter of the city’s total population. In response to the growing demographic shift, the municipal government is increasing support for older residents, including measures such as raising the basic pension.
Nationwide, China’s population has been declining since 2022, compounding difficulties for policymakers attempting to stimulate domestic consumption and manage debt levels. As hundreds of millions of workers approach retirement age, existing pension budgets face severe strain. Demographers and economists warn that declining birth rates today will likely translate into fewer households and subdued consumption growth in the future.
To address broader demographic challenges, Chinese policymakers have made population planning a central component of national economic strategy. Government expenditures to encourage childbirth are estimated to reach roughly 180 billion yuan, equivalent to approximately $26.92 billion, based on current calculations using an exchange rate of 6.6860 Chinese yuan per U.S. dollar.
