Since 1970, the median age of China’s population has continued to increase from around ** years to around **** years in 2020. According to estimates from the United Nations, the increasing trend will slow down when the median age will reach ** years in the middle of the 21st century and will remain at around ** years up to 2100. China’s aging population Although the median age of China’s population is still lower than in many developed countries, for example in Japan, the consequences of a rapidly aging population have already become a concern for the country’s future. As the most populated country in the world, the large labor force in China contributed to the country’s astonishing economic growth in the last decades. Nowadays however, the aging population is going to become a burden for China’s social welfare system and could change China’s economic situation. Reasons for the aging population Like in many other countries, increasing life expectancy is regarded as the main reason for the aging of the population. As healthcare and living standards have improved, life expectancy in China has also increased. In addition, the one-child policy led to a decreasing fertility rate in China, which further increased the share of older people in the society. Even though the one-child policy has been abolished in 2016, many young people are refraining from having children, largely due to the high costs of raising a child, career pressure and the pursuit of freedom.

This statistic shows the leading countries with the highest projected median age in 2050. By 2050, the Republic of Korea is projected to have the population with the highest median age, at 56.5 years.

According to the age distribution of China's population in 2024, approximately 68.6 percent of the population were in their working age between 15 and 64 years of age. Retirees aged 65 years and above made up about 15.6 percent of the total population. Age distribution in China As can be seen from this statistic, the age pyramid in China has been gradually shifting towards older demographics during the past decade. Mainly due to low birth rates in China, the age group of 0 to 14 year-olds has remained at around 16 to 17 percent since 2010, whereas the age groups 65 years and over have seen growth of nearly seven percentage points. Thus, the median age of the Chinese population has been constantly rising since 1970 and is forecast to reach 52 years by 2050. Accompanied by a slightly growing mortality rate of more than 7 per thousand, China is showing strong signs of an aging population. China's aging society The impact of this severe change in demographics is the subject of an ongoing scientific discussion. Rising standards of living in China contain the demand for better health care and pension insurance for retirees, which will be hard to meet with the social insurance system in China still being in its infancy. Per capita expenditure on medical care and services of urban households has grown more than ninefold since 2000 with a clear and distinctive upward trend for the near future. As for social security spending, public pension expenditure is forecast to take up approximately nine percent of China's GDP by 2050.

Population: City: Age 0 to 14: Shanghai data was reported at 2.287 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.071 Person th for 2022. Population: City: Age 0 to 14: Shanghai data is updated yearly, averaging 1.611 Person th from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2023, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,042.937 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 1.003 Person th in 2009. Population: City: Age 0 to 14: Shanghai data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: By Age and Region: City.

China Population: Age 20 to 24 data was reported at 73.696 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 73.629 Person th for 2022. China Population: Age 20 to 24 data is updated yearly, averaging 90.654 Person th from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2023, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 127,412.518 Person th in 2010 and a record low of 61.519 Person th in 2019. China Population: Age 20 to 24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: By Age and Sex.

This line chart displays median age (year) by date using the aggregation average, weighted by population in China. The data is about countries per year.

The age structure of the population in China varies greatly across different regions. In 2023, only around 9.6 percent of the population in Shanghai municipality was aged 14 years or younger, while this share amounted to 24.4 percent in Tibet.

This bar chart displays median age (year) by demonym using the aggregation average, weighted by population in China. The data is about countries per year.

Population: County: Age 65 and Above: Hainan data was reported at 0.550 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.527 Person th for 2022. Population: County: Age 65 and Above: Hainan data is updated yearly, averaging 0.382 Person th from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2023, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 499.994 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 0.272 Person th in 2017. Population: County: Age 65 and Above: Hainan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: By Age and Region: Rural.

This scatter chart displays median age (year) against female population (people) in China. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

Hong Kong Labour Force: Three Months Average: Age 25 to 44 data was reported at 1,917,000.000 Person in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,911,700.000 Person for Sep 2018. Hong Kong Labour Force: Three Months Average: Age 25 to 44 data is updated monthly, averaging 1,913,700.000 Person from Dec 1981 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 353 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,054,300.000 Person in Oct 2001 and a record low of 1,104,600.000 Person in Dec 1981. Hong Kong Labour Force: Three Months Average: Age 25 to 44 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Census and Statistics Department. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Hong Kong SAR – Table HK.G014: Labour Force: GHS: RPA.

Population: City: Age 65 and Above: Liaoning data was reported at 4.966 Person th in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.635 Person th for 2022. Population: City: Age 65 and Above: Liaoning data is updated yearly, averaging 2.423 Person th from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2023, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,965.014 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 1.670 Person th in 1998. Population: City: Age 65 and Above: Liaoning data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: By Age and Region: City.

In 2020, the child and old-age dependency ratios in China ranged at around 25.9 and 18.2 percent respectively, summing up to a total dependency ratio of 44.1 percent. While the child dependency ratio is expected to drop slightly and then remain stable, the old-age dependency ratio will rise steadily in coming decades. Age demographics in China With a populace of 1.4 billion people by the end of 2023, China stands the country with the second largest population in the world. Since its foundation in 1949, the PRC has experienced high population growth. With the beginning of the reform period in the end of the 1970s, population growth decreased steadily. Finally, China's population size peaked in 2021 and entered a declining path. Falling birth rates in combination with higher life expectancy led to a continuously increasing median age of the population in China over the past five decades. The median age of the Chinese population is expected to rise further and to reach 50 years by the middle of the century. Development of the dependency ratio China has enjoyed a continuously growing work force since the late 1970s. Simultaneously, the total dependency ratio in China decreased from 80 percent in 1970 to about 37 percent in 2010. However, an important turning point was reached in 2011, as the total dependency ratio was set to increase again after 30 years of population bonus. As can be seen from the above graph, until 2100, child-dependency is estimated to remain steady around 15 to 20 percent. Old-age dependency on the other hand is expected to grow from about 12 percent in 2010 to 69 percent in 2060, implying a growing number of senior citizens that need support from the working population. The shift of age demographics in the near future in China is bound to have ineligible economical and social impacts. To learn more about age demographics in China, take a look at our dossier aging population in China.

This scatter chart displays median age (year) against individuals using the Internet (% of population) in China. The data is filtered where the date is 2023. The data is about countries per year.

In 2024, about 60.9 percent of the Chinese population was between 16 and 59 years old. Apart from the information given on broad age groups in this statistic, some more information is provided by a timeline for the age distribution and a population breakdown by smaller age groups. Demographic development in China China ranked as the second most populous country in the world with a population of nearly 1.41 billion as of mid 2024, surpassed only by India. As the world population reached more than eight billion in mid 2024, China represented almost one fifth of the global population. China's population increased exponentially between the 1950s and the early 1980s due to Mao Zedong's population policy. To tackle the problem of overpopulation, a one-child policy was implemented in 1979. Since then, China's population growth has slowed from more than two percent per annum in the 1970s to around 0.5 percent per annum in the 2000s, and finally turned negative in 2022. China's aging population One outcome of the strict population policy is the acceleration of demographic aging trends. According to the United Nations, China's population median age has more than doubled over the last five decades, from 18 years in 1970 to 37.5 years in 2020. Few countries have aged faster than China. The dramatic aging of the population is matched by slower growth. The total fertility rate, measuring the number of children a woman can expect to have in her life, stood at just around 1.2 children. This incremental decline in labor force could lead to future challenges for the Chinese government, causing instability in current health care and social insurance mechanisms. To learn more about demographic development of the rural and urban population in China, please take a look at our reports on population in China and aging population in China.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the China household income by age. The dataset can be utilized to understand the age-based income distribution of China income.

Content

The dataset will have the following datasets when applicable

Please note: The 2020 1-Year ACS estimates data was not reported by the Census Bureau due to the impact on survey collection and analysis caused by COVID-19. Consequently, median household income data for 2020 is unavailable for large cities (population 65,000 and above).

• China, TX annual median income by age groups dataset (in 2022 inflation-adjusted dollars)
• Age-wise distribution of China, TX household incomes: Comparative analysis across 16 income brackets

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Interested in deeper insights and visual analysis?

Explore our comprehensive data analysis and visual representations for a deeper understanding of China income distribution by age. You can refer the same here

China Migrant Worker: Average Age data was reported at 43.200 Year Old in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 43.100 Year Old for Dec 2023. China Migrant Worker: Average Age data is updated quarterly, averaging 39.700 Year Old from Dec 2008 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 43.200 Year Old in Dec 2024 and a record low of 34.000 Year Old in Dec 2008. China Migrant Worker: Average Age data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Labour Market – Table CN.GB: Migrant Worker.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset presents the distribution of median household income among distinct age brackets of householders in China town. Based on the latest 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates from the American Community Survey, it displays how income varies among householders of different ages in China town. It showcases how household incomes typically rise as the head of the household gets older. The dataset can be utilized to gain insights into age-based household income trends and explore the variations in incomes across households.

Key observations: Insights from 2023

In terms of income distribution across age cohorts, in China town, the median household income stands at $103,427 for householders within the 25 to 44 years age group, followed by $97,207 for the 45 to 64 years age group. Notably, householders within the 65 years and over age group, had the lowest median household income at $56,250.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. All incomes have been adjusting for inflation and are presented in 2023-inflation-adjusted dollars.

Age groups classifications include:

• Under 25 years
• 25 to 44 years
• 45 to 64 years
• 65 years and over

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Of The Head Of Household: This column presents the age of the head of household
• Median Household Income: Median household income, in 2023 inflation-adjusted dollars for the specific age group

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for China town median household income by age. You can refer the same here

Population: City: Age 65 and Above: Anhui data was reported at 2.017 Person th in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.049 Person th for 2022. Population: City: Age 65 and Above: Anhui data is updated yearly, averaging 0.963 Person th from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2023, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,782.922 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 0.374 Person th in 2002. Population: City: Age 65 and Above: Anhui data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: By Age and Region: City.

Population: City: Age 15 to 64: Yunnan data was reported at 9.311 Person th in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9.504 Person th for 2022. Population: City: Age 15 to 64: Yunnan data is updated yearly, averaging 5.249 Person th from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2023, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9,283.710 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 1.955 Person th in 1998. Population: City: Age 15 to 64: Yunnan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: By Age and Region: City.