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China Announces Plan to Gradually Raise Retirement Age

Reform aims to address aging population and strained pension system, but faces public backlash and skepticism

Wu Yonghou, 58, rests with his granddaughter sitting on his lap, next to his wife Yang Chengrong, 60, after a meal on Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve, at their apartment in a town bordering Beijing, in Hebei province, China February 9, 2024. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang
Retired kindergarten teacher Ma Qiuhua, 67, practices dance with other elderly women at Mama Sunset, a learning centre for middle-aged and senior people in Beijing, China, January 15, 2024.
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Women dancing at a square in Aksu prefecture, Xinjiang

Overview

  • Current retirement age is 60 for men, 50-55 for women, among the lowest globally.
  • New policy emphasizes voluntariness and flexibility, with potential final age set at 65.
  • China's life expectancy has risen to 78 years, while birth rates continue to decline.
  • Many young Chinese are concerned about job market impacts and delayed pensions.
  • Social media reactions highlight fears of increased unemployment and economic strain.