Korea,
the most rapid aging nation
by
Kwang-Hyun Kim, Donga.com news
October 01, 2003
Korea
took first place in terms of the most rapidly aging country in the world.
The number of people 100 years and older were estimated to 1,872 persons
in total as of late July, 2003.
According to a report by The National Statistical Office (NSO) and
Ministry of Health and Welfare, the country’s population aged over 65
has already marked 7.2 percent in 2002 and therefore has stepped into
“the aging society.”
In addition, the nation is anticipated to become an ‘aged nation’
by the year 2019 with 14.4% of people aged 65 or older and a
‘super-aged’ nation by the year 2026 with 23.1%. This result reveals
that the nation is indeed the most rapid aging country among
statistically-comparable nations.
By standard of the United Nations (UN), a country is considered an
aging society if its population aged 65 or older marks over 7 percent
while it is considered a super-aging society if the population marks over
14 percent.
Examples of other nations include
France
, which took the longest period - 115 years - to be changed from an aging
society to an aged society. The
United States
took 72 years, while
Germany
took 40 years, and
Japan
only took 24 years to become an aged society.
In the case of
Japan
, the number of years for the nation to change from an aged society to a
super-aged society was estimated to be 12 years, which was recorded as the
shortest period among the nations.
As the ratio of Korean population is rapidly changing and getting
older, the portion of working population (aged between 15~64), which
implies the able younger person for supporting elder one, has fallen to
8.6 person in 2003 from 16.3 in 1980.
Moreover, in 2030, the number will fall even more to 2.8, which will
subsequently discourage activities of the nation’s economy and add a
heavier burden to the society.
Kim Hyun-jin, a senior researcher in Samsung Economic Research
Institute said, “The nation’s rapid aging of population will be a
potential concern that may threaten economic development and stability to
the society itself.
Korea
is not prepared enough for an aging society, so even from now on, the
country should take countermeasures against it.”
Copyright
© 2002 Global Action on Aging
Terms of Use | Privacy
Policy | Contact Us
|
