Taiwan’s population is aging. Today, there are more than 4.3 million adults aged 65 and older living in Taiwan, according to the Ministry of the Interior. By 2025, that number is expected to rise another percentage point, making Taiwan a super-aged society.
This trend became a significant issue in the 1990s and is projected to intensify in the decades ahead. By 2060, the share of the older population is estimated to double from 20 to more than 40 percent. Put another way, there may be approximately one working age individual to support two older adults.
These shifts in demographic structure will likely produce serious strains on Taiwan’s economy, including labor shortages followed by slower growth. To mitigate such pressures, the government will have to consider expanding immigration and advancing technology, among other innovative strategies and solutions.
As Taiwan’s population continues to age, the challenges and opportunities of this demographic change almost certainly will rapidly increase. Addressing the situation now rather than later and more comprehensively rather than piecemeal, might therefore enable the government to respond more effectively.