Taiwan’s population is set to peak within the next 12 years and then decline dramatically, with consequences for society that badly need to be addressed, a national population estimate for 2014-2061 released on Monday said.
In its report, the National Development Council (NDC) said the fastest-growing period for senior citizens would be from now until 2025, as baby boomers reach retirement age.
Taiwan’s population is to peak at about 23.5 million or 23.6 million between 2019 and 2026, council deputy head Hwang Wang-hsiang (黃萬翔) said.
Taiwan’s working age population (age 15 to 64) is to reach its peak of 17.37 million next year and then steadily decline, Hwang said.
The report said Taiwan became an aging society — in which people 65 or older account for at least 7 percent of the population — in 1993, and will become an aged society (14 percent) in 2018 and a super-aged society (20 percent) in 2025.
Senior citizens would account for 43.2 percent of Taiwanese society in 2061, the report said.
Taiwan’s dependency ratio — the ratio of those under the age of 15 and over the age of 64 compared with those of working age — is to rise to an ominous 0.99:1 in 2061, from 0.35:1 this year, according to the report.
Hwang said government agencies need to draft a population policy and measures to cope with the impact of population decline, because Taiwan’s aged society would adversely influence economic development, national security and government administration.
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