For the first time in its history, Taiwan has officially entered the category of a “super-aged society.” According to the results of 2025, more than 20 percent of the island’s population consists of citizens aged 65 and older. This was reported by The Straits Times on January 9, citing officially published statistics.
The numbers raise concern
With a population exceeding 23 million, Taiwan is now facing not only population aging but also a decline in its overall population size. According to the Ministry of the Interior, in 2025 the number of citizens aged 65 and above surpassed 4.67 million, accounting for 20.06 percent of the total population.
As a result, Taiwan fully meets the World Health Organization’s criteria for a “super-aged society.” In simple terms, one out of every five people in Taiwan is elderly today. By comparison, children aged 0 to 14 make up only 11.5 percent of the population.
Birth rate at a historic low
The situation is further aggravated by a sharp decline in the birth rate. In December 2025, only 9,027 babies were born in Taiwan, which is 27 percent fewer than in the same month of 2024. The total number of births for the year fell to 107,812, marking the lowest figure in the country’s history.
Experts note that the birth rate has been steadily declining over the past twenty years. The main reasons cited include:
women marrying later in life,
preference for smaller families or choosing not to have children at all,
rising living costs,
insufficient government support for child-rearing.
How is the government responding?
In response to the ongoing demographic crisis, the Taiwanese government announced new measures in December 2025. In particular, it plans to expand access to assisted reproductive technologies, such as IVF, for single women in order to encourage childbirth.
In conclusion, Taiwanese society has reached a critical turning point. An aging population, declining birth rates, and economic pressure are forcing the country to make difficult long-term decisions. The key question now is whether these measures will be able to change the demographic trend.
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