POPULATION AGING IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA*

This paper provides a factual assessment of China's population aging and its social and economic consequences. It is projected that China will have a substantially older population in the middle of the 2lst century. Major policy implications concerning old age support and health care have been examined. Kqv rrords--demography, aging. policy, China Accounting for nearly a quarter of the human race, China also has the largest population of older people (aged 65 and over) of any country in the world. The implementation of family planning policies has greatly accelerated the aging of its population. This paper aims to provide a factual assessment of this phenomenon and its social and economic con- sequences. In particular, based on the 1982 Chinese national census, a profile of the Chinese aged will be presented first. This encompasses the size and growth of the older population, life expectancy, causes of death, sex ratio, and dependency ratios. Further- more, socioeconomic characteristics and the pattern of labor force participation of the Chinese elderly will be described. Second, the process of population aging will be examined within the context of demographic transition in China since 1949. The impact of the two baby booms during the last 30 years and the influences of population policies toward birth control upon population will be discussed. Third, social and economic implications of population aging in China will be examined. These include issues such as the newly emerged family structure, old age support, social mobility, long-term care, health care, and implications for future economic development.