All articles tagged with #aging population
Facing its lowest birth rate and a rapidly aging population, China is(double) pursuing automation, AI and humanoid robots to sustain productivity and support its pension system, while expanding education and social security reforms; experts warn of short-term job displacement and stress the need for reskilling as the country manages a tech-led transition alongside demographic challenges.
January’s job surge was led by direct care workers in elder and disability services, with home health aides and nursing assistants driving growth. Yet the field is physically demanding and low-paid, leading to high turnover even as demand rises with an aging population. Immigration policy and Medicaid funding cuts could further constrain the workforce needed to meet future care needs.
Sanae Takaichi’s landslide win gives her a strong House majority to push faster growth through more spending and tax cuts, but funding the plan risks higher debt and inflation as the Bank of Japan cools ultra-low rates. Markets reacted positively to the win, with stocks rising and the yen strengthening, yet analysts warn the path is delicate: Japan’s aging, shrinking workforce and constrained immigration complicate growth, so the government is likely to lean on automation and greater participation by women and older workers while balancing ties with the US and China to protect supply chains and energy costs.
China’s population declined for a fourth straight year to 1.405 billion in 2025, with births at a record low of 7.92 million and a birth rate of 5.63 per 1,000, while deaths rose, signaling an aging, shrinking workforce that could slow China’s growth and weigh on the global economy; despite about 5% GDP growth in 2025 and a record trade surplus, fertility-boosting policies have largely failed to reverse the trend, which aligns with a global shift toward lower fertility.
China’s population declined for the fourth straight year to about 1.404 billion in 2025, with births at 7.92 million and a birth rate of 5.63 per 1,000—the lowest since 1949—despite subsidies and policy tweaks intended to boost births; analysts say aging demographics and high costs are weighing on family formation, and reforms to pension systems and tax bases may be needed to sustain growth as the economy shifts away from labor-intensive industries.
France recorded more deaths (651,000) than births (645,000) in 2025—the first such postwar occurrence—while the fertility rate fell to 1.56, the lowest since WWI and a 24% drop from 2010. Despite this, the population rose to 69.1 million thanks to net migration of about 176,000, signaling an aging society and demographic pressures facing Europe.
By 2050, Japan's population is projected to decline to around 100 million with a significant increase in the elderly population, leading to social, economic, and infrastructural challenges. The country is exploring solutions like automation, extending working ages, and regional initiatives to adapt to this demographic shift, while young people remain optimistic about their future.
The number of cancer diagnoses in people over 80 in the Netherlands is expected to rise sharply, driven by an aging population, with projections reaching 32,600 cases by 2032. Elderly patients often have limited access to new therapies, emphasizing the need for personalized treatment decisions that balance quality of life and longevity. This increase will also strain healthcare resources and highlight the importance of further research into tailored treatments.
Jefferies considers a top real estate investment for 2026 focused on the aging population, offering a solid dividend, as part of a broader income strategy that suggests moving out of cash with moderate risk.
Baby boomers are remaining in their jobs, homes, and positions of power longer than previous generations, driven by increased longevity, financial stability, and cultural factors, which is causing intergenerational tensions in areas like politics, housing, and business leadership.
Globally, families are having fewer children, leading to aging and shrinking populations, which could significantly alter economic and social structures worldwide, especially in wealthy countries like the U.S., China, and Japan, as they face workforce shortages and increased eldercare challenges.
A recent study warns that due to slowed improvements in survival rates, no generation born after 1939 is expected to reach an average lifespan of 100 years, highlighting a plateau in longevity gains in high-income countries and implications for healthcare and social planning.
Outdated capital gains tax caps are preventing millions of seniors from downsizing, causing a housing market logjam and reducing inventory for families. Updating these caps to reflect home price growth could unlock housing supply, boost economic mobility, and address market inefficiencies, especially in high-cost areas. The current tax structure disproportionately burdens middle-income homeowners and seniors, while the wealthy often sidestep taxes. Reforming the tax code could stimulate market activity, increase government revenue, and improve housing affordability.
Japan experienced a record population decline of over 900,000 in 2024, marking the 16th consecutive year of decrease, with concerns over an aging population and low birth rates prompting government action and debates over immigration policies.
Japan experienced its steepest population decline since 1968 last year, with nearly a million more deaths than births, driven by low fertility rates, an aging population, and limited impact of government policies. Despite record foreign residents, the country faces significant demographic challenges affecting its economy and social systems, with cultural and economic barriers hindering efforts to boost birth rates.