Within less than a decade: the major threat to China's most important city

Beijing is aging rapidly: by 2035, one in three residents of China's capital will be 60 or older, according to an official report. Currently, nearly a quarter of the population is 60+. The trend reflects a broad demographic crisis in China, with declining birth rates and pressure on the pension system.

Beijing, China's capital, is expected to become a "super-aged" city by 2035, with one in three residents aged 60 or older. This was reported by the official newspaper Beijing Daily. As of the end of 2025, approximately 5.29 million permanent residents of Beijing were aged 60 and over, accounting for nearly a quarter of the population. The trend reflects a broad demographic challenge in China, including a decline in the number of residents, a shrinking workforce, and pressure on the pension system. The Chinese government is investing tens of billions of dollars in encouraging childbirth, but the impact of these measures will only be felt in the long term. The forecast illustrates the rapid pace of population aging, with implications for the world's second-largest economy.

Within less than a decade: the major threat to China's most important city