Taiwan’s aging index reached a record 100.18 in February, reflecting the high standard of local health care but presenting the government with a unique set of policymaking challenges, according to the Ministry of the Interior March 9.
Calculated as the number of persons 65 years old or over per 100 persons under age 15 by the MOI, the benchmark is widely used to gauge the degree of aging in a society.
Jair Lan-pin, deputy director-general of the MOI’s Department of Household Registration, said Taiwan’s aging index has been on the rise since 2011 when it was 72.2. There are several reasons for this trend, she added, citing the country’s low birth rate, an increase in life expectancy brought about by the National Health Insurance system, enhanced health awareness among the public and a general improvement in the well-being of the people.
MOI statistics reveal that out of Taiwan’s 22 administrative regions, the southern counties of Chiayi and Yunlin, as well as the central one of Nantou, topped the aging list in that order at 177, 141.87 and 139.48, respectively. At the other end of the scale in the north are Hsinchu City at 63.87, Taoyuan City at 67.62 and Hsinchu County at 70.59.
Ministry data also indicates that those born in 2015 can expect to live to 80.2 years, up from 77.42 a decade before, with the life expectancy for men and women averaging 77.01 and 83.62, respectively. Taiwan officially became an aging society in 1993 when 7 percent of the local population comprised senior citizens; the weighting has since nearly doubled to 13.33 percent as of last month.
At the current rate, the National Development Council expects Taiwan to become an aged society next year with the elderly accounting for 14 percent of the total population. The country will turn into a super-aged society in 2026 when 1 in 5 people will be aged 65 or older.
Jair said the government is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to mitigate the impact of this demographic challenge, adding that one of the most important initiatives underway is the Long-term Care 2.0 project.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the 10-year initiative aims to establish a comprehensive care system that promotes aging in place, which is defined as living safely and independently in one’s home or community regardless of age, ability or income level. Trial services were launched late last year in 20 cities and counties.
Under another plan implemented by the National Development Council, Jair said the MOHW and Ministries of Education and Labor are working on boosting the country’s birthrate, forging a better work-family balance and providing more support to families with young children. (SFC-E)
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