According to the latest census released by the interior ministry, of the 22 cities and counties in Taiwan, six have become super-aged. In other words, one in every five people in these places is over the age of 65. The nation’s oldest administrative district is Chiayi county; the second oldest is Taipei City. Senior citizens make up 22% of the population in both places. What’s more, over 3 million households are single-person households; that’s 35.9% of households, a historic high.

According to the latest census released by the Ministry of the Interior, of the nation’s 22 counties and cities, more than a quarter have become super-aged. That’s a whole year ahead of the expected year the National Development Council had forecast.

Voice of Hsin Ping-lung
Graduate Institute of National Development, NTU
As for Taiwan as a whole, its population is aging rapidly. The proportion of aged people may not put it among the top three in the world, but I think the speed at which Taiwan is aging should put it in the world’s top three.

According to the categorization of aging societies, when 20% of a population is 65 or older, that would constitute a super-aged society.

Taiwan’s oldest population center is Chiayi County. A total of 22.36 percent of its population comprises people 65 and older. This is followed by Taipei, and Nantou and Yunlin counties in second, third and fourth places, respectively. The latest census also puts Keelung at 20.24%, and Pingtung County at 20.14%, into the super-aged category. In all these places, you’ll likely run into a senior citizen every five people you meet.

Voice of Hsin Ping-lung
Graduate Institute of National Development, NTU
In these metropolitan areas, out-of-town workers help maintain economic momentum, even if the household registration data shows an aging population. However, if the population is aging in a rural county or city, it will be like many places in Japan where the entire city has become nearly empty, because the local population is dying off. Without residents and people, it will have no economic activities. Without economic activities, local taxes would not be collected, and that leads to financial problems.

With the combination of an aging population and low birthrates, the average number of people per household in Taiwan has also dropped below 2.53 people. There are 3.32 million single-person households, accounting for 35.9% of the total, a record high. New Taipei has the largest number of single-person households, while Penghu has the highest percentage of single-person households. Older adults living alone is becoming an increasingly serious issue for local governments, which are facing the challenge of declining coffers.

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