Taiwan is an aging society and elderly people are expected to account for 20 percent of the total population within 10 years, according to the National Development Council (NDC).
The council cited a population report as saying that the number of people in the 65-or-older age group is expected to increase from about 4.64 million currently to 6.42 million by 2025, which would mean one out of every five people in Taiwan would be in the group.
The one-to-five ratio means Taiwan would be a “hyper-aged” society, the council said.
The rapid growth in population of elderly people means that within 10 years, every three people on a payroll would be responsible for the financial support of one retiree, the report said.
The ratio is expected to increase by 2040, when the number of people in the 65-or-older agegroup would on average see two working people supporting one retiree, the report said, adding that the fall in the number of working people would be exacerbated by the declining birth rate.
A separate report jointly released by the council and the Ministry of Health and Welfare indicates that because of the aging society, elderly people who are disabled and have lost ability to take care of themselves account for 20 percent of the aged population, or about 572,000 people, a number that is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2031.
Cathay Life Insurance Co, one of the nation’s largest life insurers, said that as the number of disabled elderly people is expected to grow, people should pay close attention to long-term care services and buy appropriate insurance policies to reduce the financial burden when they get older.
In addition to rising demand for long-term care, market analysts said wealth management is important.
The public will have to start managing their wealth as early as possible to keep sufficient funds on hand for a comfortable retirement, said Sheng Chi-ying (盛季瑩), a manager of Taishin International Bank’s wealth management division.
According to an estimate by CTCB Bank, for a person who wants to retire at age 60, they will have to have saved no less than NT$11 million (US$335,345).
They will need about NT$40,000 in disposable funds to meet demand based on statistics that show people in Taiwan have an average of 23 years of life after retirement, the bank said.
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