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Taiwan officially becomes 'aged society'
Taiwan has transitioned from an "aging society" to an "aged society", with slightly over 14 percent of its population now 65 years old or above.
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Taiwan has transitioned from an 'aging society' to an 'aged society', with slightly over 14 percent of its population now 65 years old or above. (Shutterstock/Ivica Drusany)
T
aiwan has transitioned from an "aging society" to an "aged society", with slightly over 14 percent of its population now 65 years old or above, the government announced Tuesday.
"Taiwan has officially entered an aged society," the Interior Ministry said in a statement, also noting that one out of every seven people is now in that age group.
The World Health Organization classifies a society in which the proportion of people 65 or older exceeds 7 percent as an aging society, 14 percent as an aged society and 20 percent as a super-aged society.
Read also: Taiwan is happiest nation in East Asia
Taiwan became an aging society in 1993.
Japan is currently the only super-aged country in Asia, with 28 percent of its population 65 years or older.
Elsewhere in Asia, the corresponding figures stand at around 16 percent in Hong Kong, 14 percent in South Korea, 12 percent in Singapore and 11 percent in mainland China.
The Interior Ministry said it is estimated to take only eight years for Taiwan to become a super-aged society, faster than Japan which took 11 years.
