China Now Supports More Elderly Than Children

China now has more dependent elderly people than dependent children.

Official figures released last week show the shift clearly.

Supported elderly people make up 23 percent of the population.

Supported children now account for 22 percent.

Chinese authorities are trying to soften the effects of a low birth rate.

They face a population that is growing older rapidly.

Officials now urge younger generations to marry.

They also encourage couples to have more children.

This approach contrasts sharply with the former one-child policy.

That previous policy was enforced from 1979 to 2015.

This reporting relies on coverage from DR.