For the first time in its history, the working age population between 15 and 64 fell from census to census, declining 169,000 to 16.54 million. The number of people over 65 in Taiwan is now at 3.67 million, nearly 16 percent of the population. AGING IN TAIWANArticles on aging tend to focus on its effects on the health care system, but our growing elderly are going to transform every aspect of society. In Taiwan a decade ago, the proportion of children living with elderly parents was higher than in China, South Korea or Japan. In addition to the medical and social costs, the growing population of the elderly will affect defense arrangements.

Source: Taipei Times November 14, 2021 16:27 UTC