According to a report issued on Oct. 30, by the end of 2016, Beijing’s registered population aged 60 or over reached 3.29 million, accounting for 24 percent of its registered residents, the second highest in China.
The elderly dependency ratio was 38.1 percent, which means every 100 working age adults have to care for at least 38 seniors.
The number of people aged 80 or older increased from 426,000 in 2012 to 595,000 in 2016. The number of centenarians increased from 544 in 2012 to 751 in 2016.
The aging population in the six main districts of Beijing reached 2.17 million by the end of 2016, 65.8 percent of the total aging population in Beijing.
Fengtai District has the highest aging population rate at 29 percent, while Daxing District’s 20.3 percent is the lowest.
The average life expectancy in Beijing was 82.03 in 2016, an increase of 0.68 over 2012.
Social insurance for the elderly improved
The child dependency ratio increased from 14.1 percent in 2012 to 19.1 percent in 2016, and the elderly dependency ratio increased from 29.4 percent in 2012 to 38.1 percent in 2016.
The social insurance for the elderly is improving as the pressure on working age people rises.
In 2016, the number of retired people covered by urban basic health insurance was 2.78 million, increasing by 82,500 than the previous year. The number of urban elderly residents with medical insurance was 199,300, increasing by 1,300 than the previous year. Almost 2.12 million people were included in a new rural co-operative medical system.
In 2016, Beijing issued 580 million yuan (US$87.4 million) in medical allowance to the elder aged 80 and above, 51.34 million yuan to the elder aged 90 and above, and 7.77 million yuan to the elder aged 95 and above.
Over 90 percent of senior care institutions offering medical services
The report shows that there are 350 senior care institutions in Beijing. The number of beds in the institutions increased from 80,100 in 2012 to 126,000 in 2016.
Over 90 percent of the institutions are equipped with medical services. By the end of 2016, medical insurance organizations had been established in 76 senior care institutions, and 305 senior care institutions had signed agreements with medical institutions.
By September this year, Beijing had installed 72 elevators in old buildings; 85 are being built and 166 are under plan. Beijing has also improved housing conditions for 1,327 elder households in need.