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China's population ageing rapidly
Telegraph ^ | 04/28/11 | Malcolm Moore

Posted on 04/30/2011 4:51:05 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

China's population ageing rapidly

China is heading for an elderly population crisis with over 60s now accounting for more than 13 per cent of the population and the country's 'one child' policy meaning there are not enough younger people to support them.

By Malcolm Moore, Shanghai

3:25PM BST 28 Apr 2011

The first national census for a decade revealed demographic problems that could derail China's booming economic growth and which are placing a heavy burden on young Chinese.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, there has been a sharp spike in older Chinese, with the percentage of over-60s rising by nearly three percentage points to 13.3 per cent of the total population, or 178 million people. At the same time, there was a sharp drop in the number of young Chinese, with under-14s making up just 16.6 per cent of the population, down from 22.9 per cent at the last count.

Meanwhile, the total population of China has swelled over the decade by 73.9 million – more than the population of the UK – to 1.37 billion people.

China's ageing problem is not yet as acute as Britain's, where 16 per cent are over 65, and 19 per cent under 16, but nor is China's economy as developed.

In the country's one-child families, many children feel increasingly trapped by the responsibility of each caring for an "upside-down pyramid" of two parents and four grandparents.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aging; china; economy; onechildpolicy
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To: RoadTest

China could easily solve much of its problem by permitting city dwellers to have two children. Or permit the rural groups who want more kids to have a third if they can pay for it.


21 posted on 04/30/2011 7:58:37 AM PDT by tbw2
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To: Ben Ficklin

I read somewhere that Los Angeles was the fourth largest Canadian city, based on the number of Canadians living there. Canada imports lots of people because many of its young people come to the United States and add to its demographic momentum, the children of those Canadians becoming Americans.


22 posted on 04/30/2011 8:00:28 AM PDT by tbw2
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To: bert

China has a stronger military, 20-40 million excess men, and a more militant government. And they’re buying up farm land and buying up mineral resources.
The Chinese even move in their own workers for mines and factories, causing Africans angst because development brings jobs but not for them.
It wouldn’t be hard for Chinese owned and worked farms and mines to become colonies.


23 posted on 04/30/2011 8:03:02 AM PDT by tbw2
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To: tbw2

“Or permit the rural groups who want more kids to have a third if they can pay for it.”

Isn’t one child the limit?


24 posted on 04/30/2011 2:00:14 PM PDT by RoadTest (Organized religion is no substitute for the relationship the living God wants with you.)
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To: SunkenCiv
That trap of responsibility should be very good for the future birthrate. /s

Burden the young with caring for the old just when they need their strength to bring in the next generation. That isn't going to end well.

Over here we do the same thing, loading down talented youth with student debt just when they need to be starting homes, for example.

Eating the young, everywhere you look....

25 posted on 04/30/2011 3:05:44 PM PDT by thulldud (Is it "alter or abolish" time yet?)
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To: RoadTest

One child for city dwellers, regardless of gender. For farmers, if the first child is a girl, they are allowed a second child to try for a son. If the first child is disabled, they are allowed a second child. The rule is basically to give them two tries for a healthy boy to take care of the farm.


26 posted on 04/30/2011 3:25:52 PM PDT by tbw2
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To: tbw2

Thank you.


27 posted on 05/01/2011 5:35:59 AM PDT by RoadTest (Organized religion is no substitute for the relationship the living God wants with you.)
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