China rapidly greying; 13 population 60

It said the country8217;s ageing population is likely to reach 16.7 per cent of total population in next five years,and about 30 per cent by the year 2050,state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The number of people at and above 65 had reached 118.83 million by the end of 2010,it said,adding China8217;s aging population is increasing rapidly while country8217;s birth rate remains low.

Report finds the trend is increasing pressure on geriatric services with the overall supply of nursing services for seniors falling well short of demand.

Launching the report,Yan Qingchun,deputy head of the administration department of CNWCA said the the total number of beds in the existing nursing homes equals to only 1.59 per cent of its total aging population,a ratio lower than both the 5 to 7 per cent in developed countries and the 2 to 3 per cent in developing countries.

As per the international standards,a country or region is considered to have an 8220;aging society8221; when the number of people at and above 60 years reaches 10 per cent or more of its total population.

According to last year8217;s census,China8217;s population had increased to 1.3397 billion,with the annul growth slowing down from 1.07 per cent to 0. 57 per cent in last decade.

Besides grim prospects of rapid increase old population,China is also weighed down by low birth rate as a result of one Child policy.

Around 16.6 per cent of the country8217;s population was aged 14 or younger,which was 6.29 percentage points lower than that in the 2000 census.

The trend is expected to continue further with Chinese President Hu Jintao asserting that China will continue with its three decade old one child policy as it had yielded rich dividends by keeping the population growth under control.

Chinese officials say the policy has helped to prevent over 300 million births.