World · 2026-10-28 · Morning briefing
China's dependency ratio flips as elderly outnumber children
For the first time, families in China are supporting more elderly people than children. Official data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows the country's elderly dependency ratio rose to 23% last year, surpassing the 22% ratio for children. In absolute terms, China is now home to 223m people aged 65 and over, compared with 213m children aged 14 and under.
The demographic milestone follows decades of the one-child policy, which the government estimates prevented some 400m births. Despite Beijing now encouraging larger families, birth rates have fallen to historic lows. Sociologists warn the shift could limit China's economic growth and consumer spending power.
The change is expected to redirect public spending from schools towards pensions and healthcare; by the end of 2025, over 53m elderly people were receiving state subsidies. However, Professor Stuart Gietel-Basten of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology cautions that framing the elderly purely as "dependents" ignores their own economic agency.
Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.
Read the sources
- China’s elderly dependents surpass children
- More Seniors Than Children: China's Historic Demographic Crisis Deepens
- China's old-age dependency ratio overtakes children for first time
- China’s elderly dependency ratio surpasses child ratio — Channel NewsAsia
- China population drops 3.39m, edging closer to sub-1.4b mark
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