Basic nationwide elderly care service system a step closer

Institutional reforms related to elderly care work and progress toward the establishment of a basic elderly care service system across China were highlights for the sector last year.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs, which assumed responsibility for most elderly care work from the National Health Commission in March, has completed the setting up of a new bureau, and local administrations are making progress in restructuring.

National and regional lists for basic elderly care services were formulated last year, and campaigns were launched to increase catering services for the elderly and care for those having financial difficulty. The number of elderly care facilities in China also kept climbing.

According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Jan 17, China's elderly population — those age 60 or older — grew to 297 million by the end of last year, making up 21.1 percent of the total population, compared with 19.8 percent by late 2022.

China's total population also dropped for a second consecutive year, by around 2.1 million, due to factors such as low fertility levels, fewer women of childbearing age and delays in marriage.

Yuan Xin, a professor at Nankai University's School of Economics and vice-president of the China Population Association, said the downward trend in total population, coupled with an older demographic profile, will be fundamental features of China in the future and will drive the country toward a deeply aging society.

"It is important to plan ahead in aspects of social and economic resources and policies to deal with the challenge," he said.