Population in Taiwan 2013-2023, by broad age group

In 2023, the share of the population in Taiwan aged 65 and older accounted for approximately 18.4 percent of the total population. While the share of old people on the island increased gradually over recent years, the percentage of the working-age population and the children have both declined.

Taiwan’s aging population

With one of the lowest fertility rates in the world and a steadily growing life expectancy, the average age of Taiwan’s population is increasing quickly, and the share of people aged 65 and above is expected to reach around 37.5 percent of the total population in 2050. This development is also reflected in Taiwan’s population pyramid, which shows that the size of the youngest age group is only half of the size of age groups between 40 and 60 years. The rapid aging of the populations puts a heavy burden on the social insurance system. Old-age dependency is expected to reach around 70 percent by 2050, meaning that by then three people of working age will have to support two elders, compared to only one elder supported by four working people today.

Aging societies in East Asia

Today, many countries in East Asia have very low fertility rates and face the challenges of aging societies. This is especially true among those countries that experienced high economic growth in the past, which often resulted in quickly receding birth rates. Japan was one of the first East Asian countries witnessing this demographic change, as is reflected in its high median age. South Korea had the lowest fertility rate of all Asian countries in recent years, and with China, one of the largest populations on earth joined the ranks of quickly aging societies.