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Updated Saturday, December 24, 2011 0:05 am TWN, CNA

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Taiwan to become 'aged' society in 6 years: minister

TAIPEI--Taiwan will likely become an “aged” society by 2017, when senior citizens are expected to constitute 14 percent of the country's population, Interior Minister Jiang Yi-huah said yesterday.

The United Nations defines societies with 7-13 percent of their populations 65 years or older as “aging” and those with senior citizens making up 14 percent or more of their populations as “aged.”

At present, 2.52 million of Taiwan's 23.18 million people, or 10.87 percent, are senior citizens, Jiang said, and he predicted that senior citizens would account for half the population by 2051, with serious consequences.

“The trend of aging accompanied by a low birthrate will have a serious adverse impact on the country's economy and society,” Jiang said.

Recognizing the trend, the government has focused some of its social welfare programs on helping the elderly, including measures to encourage senior citizens to take part in community activities, Jiang said.

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