‣The number of Asian people over 65 will quadruple from approximately 250,000,000 to 1 billion by 2050.
‣With rapid fertility decline and prolonged life expectancy the age structure of the population in Asia is changing.
| Proportion of the elderly 7% | Proportion of the elderly 14% | Doubling time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 1970 | 1994 | 24 |
| Korea | 1999 | 2017 | 18 |
| Hong Kong | 1983 | 2014 | 31 |
| Singapore | 2000 | 2016 | 16 |
| Thailand | 2005 | 2027 | 22 |
| Malaysia | 2019 | 2044 | 25 |
| Indonesia | 2019 | 2041 | 22 |
| Philippines | 2026 | 2049 | 23 |
| China | 2001 | 2026 | 25 |
Source: UN World Population Process (2004)
‣As with other countries in Asia, Thailand’s population is rapidly aging. In 2009, the life expectancy in Thailand was 70 years (WHO 2011), and 11.5% of the population was aged 60 years or over, this is estimated to double by 2025.