The State Council Information Office held a press conference today to introduce the operation of the national economy in 2024. At the conference, it was mentioned that by the end of 2024, the population aged 60 and above in China will reach 310.31 million, surpassing 300 million for the first time.

By the end of 2024, the national population will be 1408.28 million, 1.39 million fewer than that at the end of the previous year. The birth population is 9.54 million, the death population is 10.93 million, and the natural population growth rate is -0.99 ‰. From the perspective of gender composition, the male population is 719.09 million and the female population is 689.19 million, with a total gender ratio of 104.34 (with females as 100).

In terms of age composition, the population aged 16-59 is 857.98 million, accounting for 60.9% of the national population; The population aged 60 and above is 310.31 million, accounting for 22.0% of the national population, of which the population aged 65 and above is 220.23 million, accounting for 15.6% of the national population.

From the perspective of urban-rural composition, the urban resident population was 943.5 million, an increase of 10.83 million from the end of the previous year; The rural permanent population was 464.78 million, a decrease of 12.22 million; The proportion of urban population in the national population (urbanization rate) was 67.00%, 0.84 percentage points higher than that at the end of last year.

China is accelerating its progress in a moderately aging society

From entering an aging society in 2000 to entering a moderately aging society in 2023, China has only taken 23 years. By comparison, France took 115 years, Sweden took 85 years, Australia took 73 years, the United States took 69 years, and the United Kingdom took 45 years. The rapid aging rate in China is a testament to this. (Data comes from an interview with Yuan Xin, a professor of the School of Economics of Nankai University and vice president of the Chinese Population Society)

According to international practice, China is accelerating its progress in a social form of "moderate aging". According to the China Statistical Yearbook 2024, 19 provinces in China have entered the stage of moderate or severe aging, including Liaoning, Shanghai, Chongqing, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Sichuan, Jiangsu, Tianjin, Shandong, Hubei, Hunan, Hebei, Anhui, Beijing, Inner Mongolia, Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Henan.

It is predicted that by around 2035, the number of elderly people aged 60 and above in China will exceed 400 million, accounting for over 30%, entering a stage of severe aging.

Coping with aging: There are many business opportunities for the "silver haired generation"

No country has so many elderly people like us. However, Japan ranks first in terms of aging population. As a super aging country, as early as 1994, Japan's aging rate had already reached 14%, which is equivalent to our current level. So, what problem-solving strategies have they tried over the past few decades?

Here are the top 10 business ecosystems and models of Japan's silver economy for everyone to learn from and consider:

1. Employment assistance/silver haired talent dispatch: In Japan, nearly half of those aged 65 and above choose to re-enter the workforce. Is it possible in China?

2. Elderly communication assistance app: Japan's silver haired population has fewer same-sex and opposite sex friends, which has created opportunities in this category. So, is there a chance for an elderly version of Xiaohongshu in China in the future?

3. Shopping assistance service: Due to the difficulty faced by elderly people when shopping for heavy daily necessities, this service has emerged. So, is there an opportunity for Meituan+community delivery to your home in China?

4. Self care services: apartment communities, nursing homes, this opportunity is already here.

5. Care services: such as accompanying people on outings, preparing meals, chatting, home beauty and hairdressing, as well as care AI and care robots.

6. End of life care: including medical treatment, hospitalization, funeral, cemetery, worship, etc.

7. Medical and elderly care: Medical aesthetics are declining, but medical and elderly care are on the rise. Only "elderly care" is not essential, and "medical care" is essential.

8. Second hand market: There are many reusable old items for the elderly. Is there a chance for the elderly to idle?

9. Financial products: help elderly people achieve "money generates money" in their personal assets, such as whether insurance and subsidies are sufficient to support sudden expenses such as illness and expenses for senior apartments, and then allocate the remaining money in finance. The elderly generation in China and Japan were taught from a young age to work hard and save money, saving their surplus money. No one taught them how to spend money, so they didn't know how to spend money and enjoy happiness. Instead, they had ample funds on hand.

10. Interest activities: such as fishing, hiking, taking a cruise, gardening, traveling, and so on. Such interest activities can bring large-scale economic benefits.

11. Pre service for "former silver haired generation" (50-59 years old) and "energetic silver haired generation". Start planning for these people's "second life" in advance and gradually convert them into the top 10 customers.