China’s ageing crisis: Beijing to become ‘super-aged’ city by 2035

China's capital, Beijing, is anticipated to become a “super-aged” city by 2035, when nearly one-third of its residents are expected to be aged 60 or older, the official Beijing daily reported.Population planning has become a central part of China's economic strategy as policymakers grapple with a rapidly ageing society and declining birth rates. According to Reuters estimates, the government could face a potential bill of around 180 billion yuan ($26.92 billion) this year to encourage births.Elderly population accounts for nearly a quarterOne in every three Beijing residents is expected to be aged 60 or above by 2035, Beijing daily reported on Saturday.At the end of last year, the Chinese capital had 5.29 million permanent residents aged 60 and above, accounting for almost a quarter of its total population, according to the Reuters.The city government is expanding support for older residents, including an increase in the basic pension, according to the report.Ageing population poses economic challengesChina's population has been declining since 2022, while the pace of ageing is putting increasing pressure on the country's economic outlook. The demographic shift is complicating efforts to stimulate domestic consumption and control debt, as hundreds of millions of people are expected to leave the workforce while pension budgets face mounting strain.Demographers and economists have warned that lower birth rates today could result in fewer households in the future, potentially slowing consumption growth over the longer term.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.