China’s old-age dependency ratio overtakes its child dependency ratio for the first time in 2025, indicating that the working-age population now supports more people aged 65 and above than children.
Multiple outlets attribute the shift to years of low birth rates, which have reshaped China’s demographic and economic outlook. VnExpress International reports the transition occurs in 2025, framing it as the point when seniors become the larger dependent group relative to children. NDTV similarly highlights the same milestone, linking it to the legacy effects of the One-Child Policy.
Channel NewsAsia adds a specific figure, citing Chinese state-affiliated media Yicai, and provides an old-age ratio of 23.1% versus 22% for children. While all outlets describe the crossover as first occurring in 2025, they vary slightly in the exact percentages they use and the emphasis placed on policy legacy versus the demographic statistic itself.
