AROUND one in three residents of China’s capital is expected to be aged 60 and above by 2035, underscoring the growing challenge of an ageing population for the world’s second-largest economy.
The official Beijing Daily reported on Oct 17 that Beijing was projected to become a “super-aged” city by 2035, with older residents accounting for roughly one-third of its population.
The city had 5.29 million permanent residents aged 60 and above at the end of 2025, representing almost a quarter of its population, the newspaper reported.
In response, the municipal government is stepping up support for older residents, including raising basic pension payments.
China’s demographic challenges have become a major concern for policymakers as the country’s population has declined since 2022 and its workforce continues to age.
The shift threatens to complicate efforts to stimulate domestic consumption and manage debt, while placing additional pressure on pension systems as hundreds of millions of people are expected to leave the workforce over time.
Demographers and economists warn that falling birth rates could also mean fewer households and weaker consumption growth in the longer term.
China is making population planning a key part of its economic strategy. Reuters estimates that the government faces a potential cost of about 180 billion yuan (RM109.78 billion) in 2026 to encourage births.
The projected ageing of Beijing highlights the broader challenge facing China as it seeks to balance support for a growing elderly population with efforts to encourage childbirth, sustain economic growth and maintain the long-term financial viability of its social security system. - October 19, 2026