According to statistics from the South Korean Ministry of Interior and Safety, the country currently has over 10 million people aged 65 and over, accounting for approximately 20% of the population.
With the aforementioned figures, South Korean officials announced that the country has officially become a "super-aging" society according to the United Nations classification, as the proportion of the population aged 65 and over exceeds 20%. This age group in South Korea accounted for 10% of the population in 2008, increased to 15% in 2019, and reached 19% in January of this year, Yonhap reported on December 24.
According to the United Nations classification, a country with more than 7% of its population aged 65 or older is considered an "aging society," more than 14% is an "aged society," and more than 20% is a "super-aged society."
As of December 23rd, there were 5.69 million women aged 65 and over in South Korea, compared to 4.54 million men. The proportion of elderly people varied across regions, with South Jeolla Province leading at 27.18% and Sejong City recording the lowest rate at 11.57%.
A group of elderly people singing in Chilgok City, South Korea, in February.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Population aging poses significant challenges for the South Korean government . The government has announced plans to establish a new ministry focused on population strategy to address the demographic crisis. In 2022, South Korea reported that over $200 billion had been spent on population growth efforts over the past 16 years. However, policies aimed at encouraging childbirth have not been sufficient to reverse the aging trend.
According to CNN, experts attribute the demographic shift in South Korea and Asia in general to changing work culture, rising economic and living costs, and the younger generation's differing views on marriage compared to previous generations.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/han-quoc-chinh-thuc-tro-thanh-xa-hoi-sieu-gia-185241225070512983.htm
Comment (0)