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China's ageing population

China's ageing population
The latest news, analysis and opinion on China's ageing population. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
A 77-year-old man in China is thought to be one of the country’s last remaining professional letter writers. Photo: Douyin
Trending in China

Last professional letter writer in Chinese city pens 100,000 missives over 59 years

Renowned man of many words bridges overseas divide for migrant families; turns mundane messages into poetry to convey emotion.

China consumption

China has the most smokers in the world. Is it harming the economy?

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Trending in China

China grandma, 74, gains online fame for fashion sense, youthful spirit, confidence

Ageing society

Opinion | East Asia’s population challenge isn’t just about raising birth rates

Sustainable policies must strengthen people’s well-being and expand opportunities, creating a society where everyone can thrive.

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A woman and child rest on some steps in Tsim Sha Tsui on January 13. Photo: Jelly Tse
Trending in China

Controversial China ‘dead or alive’ app becomes valuable personal safety tool

Application inspired by developer’s fear of walking home alone late at night becomes potential lifesaver for elderly people.

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China's population

China’s population over 65 outnumbers children for first time since 1949: survey

At the end of last year, 15.87 per cent of China’s population was aged at least 65, compared with 15.25 per cent aged between 0 and 14.

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Trending in China

Chinese man, 78, lives in supermarket, offers property he owns to carer friend

‘Sloppy and unhygienic’ looking grandfather gets cleaned up by nanny he met in shop; faces fight with his son over ownership of home.

A 78-year-old man in Shanghai has lived in a supermarket for 10 years after inheriting a small flat because he fears loneliness post-divorce and found companionship with a woman at the shop. Photo: Shutterstock
China's population

China’s marriage numbers plunge to Covid-era low as population woes deepen

Fewer than 1.7 million couples tied the knot in the first quarter, the lowest total for the same period since lockdown-dominated 2020.

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China debt

China, US drive global debt to record $353 trillion – what’s behind the surge?

New report warns that rising conflicts, AI spending and energy security push are all expected to further increase global debt levels.

US-China relations

The ageing dilemma: why robots can’t save us but China-US cooperation might

US medical anthropologist Arthur Kleinman looks for path out of a social paradox: longer lives without a defined social role.

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Arthur Kleinman, a founding father of modern medical anthropology, says retirees in China may face decades without a defined social purpose. Photo: Shutterstock
Trending in China

China vegetarian woman, 107, captivates internet with robust health, sharp memory

Centenarian with flawless skin is oldest person in her residential community; passes full-body health checks with flying colours.

A 107-year-old woman in Zhejiang gained attention online for her remarkable health. Free from common illnesses like hypertension and diabetes, she has a sharp memory. Photo: Douyin
China birth rate

In China, a France-sized population loss begins to test coastal powerhouses

Rising pension burdens and social security subsidies are also straining public finances – though trends remain uneven, analysts say.

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Trending in China

‘Phone booth princess’: China grandma spends 3 decades managing public service kiosk

Octogenarian spends 11 hours a day manning two landlines in busy tourist area of Shanghai, says the job staves off loneliness.

China jobs

China’s youth unemployment crunch deepens as record graduation season looms

China’s official youth jobless rate climbed to 16.9 per cent in March, with another 12.7 million graduates set to enter the job market this summer.

A jobseeker meets with a recruiter at a job fair in Shanghai on April 9. The job fair was for aged-care services. Nearly 50 organisations and enterprises offered more than 100 opportunities. Photo: Xinhua
China jobs

Shanghai mobilises seniors to work longer amid China’s demographic crisis

With one in three residents above retirement age, Shanghai’s 28-department plan aims to mobilise retirees to offset shrinking payrolls and rising pension strains.

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A group of older Chinese people gather at Shanghai’s Fuxing Park. The city is now encouraging seniors to return to work. Photo: Shutterstock
Trending in China

China woman, 89, climbs from 27th to 21st floor to escape locked bedroom goes viral

Fearless grandmother continues descent as firefighters rush to her rescue; is eventually moved inside high-rise block, suffers no injuries.

China consumption

Xi Jinping backs services sector to power China’s next growth phase

Beijing is counting on services to rebalance growth as it faces economic headwinds and demographic challenges.

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Mainland China

Demographic shift fuels growth in China’s elderly care, insurance sectors

Powered by AI, the silver economy is driving product innovation and unlocking substantial new consumption growth.

A senior resident interacts with ‘Xia Lan,’ a humanoid robot, at Shenzhen Nursing Home in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, March 3, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
Trending in China

China ‘left-behind aunties’, or senior girl group, get popular for charm, dancing

Lonely, disconnected elderly women find social links, confidence and an army of online fans with their joyous online routines.

Trending in China

China grandma falls for AI-generated ‘bossy president’, writes ‘him’ love letters

84-year-old spends hours watching AI-generated humans, asks digital man if he ‘hates’ her, even thinks about marrying ‘him’.

Trending in China

China woman lives in nursing home, pays US$30 rent by being companion to residents

25-year-old says care venue ‘feels like home’; friendship scheme aims to ease work pressure on young, address ageing population problem.

A 25-year-old woman in China has lived in a nursing home for over two years, paying just US$30 monthly rent by providing companionship to elderly fellow residents. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
China society

Opinion | Why China’s AI automation push is a risky social experiment

Without reforms to improve wages, housing access and childcare, automation could entrench a low-fertility crisis and destabilise the social contract.

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A robot helps with a task during a media tour to the Beijing Humanoid Robot Pilot Verification Platform, in Beijing on March 20. Photo: EPA
Trending in China

Chinese man, 82, travels 12 hours daily for 105 days to visit wife in ICU

Farmer wakes at 4.30am every day to prepare meals for beloved wife, holds her hand by side of bed and reminisces about their life together.

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Trending in China

China woman uses AI-made man to lecture on respecting science, rejecting superstition

Non-existent retired professor who ‘lectures’ on parent-child relationships gathers online support from 200,000 followers.

Trending in China

China pet shop boss finds dumped cat with note, cash from elderly facing surgery

Story of kitten in a pet carrier containing clean food bowls left by owner no longer physically able to care for it moves millions online.

A Chinese pet shop owner discovered an abandoned cat left outside her store with a touching letter and cash from an elderly person facing surgery. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin
Trending in China

Chinese man posts a big note on mum-in-law’s suitcase to help her on solo travels

Thoughtful son-in-law goes the extra mile to make sure illiterate woman in her 60s is safe; Good Samaritan student on same flight offers help.

A Chinese man helped his illiterate mother-in-law, who does not speak Mandarin, by posting a note on her suitcase before her solo trip, moving millions online. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote/caacnews.com.cn
Trending in China

How a 102-year-old ‘baby’ in China has been hospital-free for 50 years

‘Cheerful’ centenarian with sharp eyesight, nimble hands still mend shoes and socks; values family harmony above all else.

China consumption

Beijing urged to boost rural pensions as lawmakers fight for farmers’ fair share

Appeals highlight a long-standing lack of benefits for elderly citizens outside cities, and proposals include leveraging state assets and new taxes to bridge the vast disparity.

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