Group 1: Current Status of Aging Population - As of the end of 2024, the population aged 60 and above in China will exceed 300 million, reaching 310.31 million, accounting for 22.0% of the total population [1] - The population aged 65 and above will reach 220.23 million, making up 15.6% of the total population [1] - China has entered a moderately aging society, with the aging population becoming a key factor affecting national development [1] Group 2: Characteristics of Aging Population - China has the largest elderly population globally, with approximately 220 million people aged 65 and above, representing one-fourth of the world's elderly population [3] - The aging process in China is significantly faster than in developed countries, with only 21 years taken to transition from aging (7%) to deep aging (14%) [5] Group 3: Future Trends and Projections - By 2030, the elderly population in China is expected to reach 380 million, and by 2035, it will increase to around 420 million, accounting for over 30% of the total population [13] - By 2050, the total population is projected to decline to 1.25 billion, with the elderly population proportion reaching approximately 37.4% [13] Group 4: Regional Disparities - There are significant regional differences in aging levels, with Liaoning having the highest proportion of people aged 65 and above at 21.06% in 2023, while Guangdong, Xinjiang, and Tibet have not yet reached 10% [14] - The aging population is more pronounced in rural areas compared to urban areas, with the elderly population proportion in rural areas increasing from 10.1% in 2010 to 19.3% in 2022 [10] Group 5: Economic and Social Impacts - The demographic dividend is diminishing as the population from the baby boom era exits the labor market, leading to a decline in the working-age population from 1.01 billion in 2013 to 960 million in 2023 [18] - The elderly dependency ratio reached 22.5% in 2023, indicating that for every five working-age individuals, one elderly person is supported [19] - The pension burden is increasing, with the ratio of insured workers to retirees declining from 3.2:1 in 2010 to 2.7:1 in 2022 [20] Group 6: Healthcare System Impacts - The prevalence of chronic diseases is rising, with chronic diseases being the leading cause of death among urban and rural residents, affecting over 300 million people nationwide [23] - The total medical expenses are increasing rapidly due to the aging population and the high incidence of chronic diseases [24] - There is a growing demand for integrated medical and elderly care services, which will become essential for meeting the diverse health needs of the elderly population [26] Group 7: Employment Market Impacts - The supply of labor is shrinking as the proportion of elderly individuals increases and the working-age population decreases [27] - The overall labor participation rate is declining due to lower participation rates among the elderly [27] - The service sector, particularly in elderly care, healthcare, and wellness, is expected to create numerous job opportunities, shifting the employment structure towards "silver economy services" [27]

文：任泽平团队 人口问题既十分重要，又充满争议；既事关国家兴衰，又关系每个人的幸福。 少子化、老 龄化、不婚化、阶层固化等现象带来的挑战及应对，在学术界和国家战略层面长期存在不同观 点。人口因素是长周期、慢变量，势大力沉，是典型的"灰犀牛"，人口问题日益成为世界各国 重点关注的议题。 一、中国视角：少子老龄化时代来临，人口变迁带来哪些挑战和机遇 人口周期是指人口经历老一代陆续死亡、新一代不断出生、世代更替的人口再生产过程及 其引发的经济社会变化。个体生命周期的加总成为人口周期，主要表现为生育率下滑、老龄化 加重、人力资本水平提高、人口迁移从城市化到都市圈城市群化等特征。 少子老龄化带来一系列重大而深远的影响和挑战，比如经济潜在增速下降、储蓄投资率下 降、劳动力成本上升、创新创业活力下降、资产估值中枢下行、社会负担加重等。 过去，中 国依靠庞大且年轻的人口红利和高储蓄投资率带来的高资本投入，支撑改革开放后经济的快速 增长。2010年，"民工荒"、劳动年龄人口占比见顶标志着中国刘易斯拐点出现，人口红利消 失，经济增速换挡。 当前中国人口形势严峻，具体表现为十大特征： （1）总人口14.1亿，开始持续负增长； （2 ...