The age of uncertainty looming for China’s future retirees
- Census figures confirm that the country is greying rapidly and the pool of people paying into pensions is shrinking fast
- The generation gap leaves workers wondering what lies ahead
This is the 16th in a series of stories about China’s once-a-decade census, which was conducted in 2020. The world’s most populous nation released its national demographic data in May and the figures will have far-reaching social policy and economic implications.
Gu Qunzhen, 69, started her day by bargaining with vendors at a suburban wet market in the northern Chinese municipality of Tianjin.
She spent around 10 yuan (US$1.57) on cabbage, cucumbers and tofu and went home to prepare the day’s meal for herself and her 75-year-old husband.
Gu gets around despite the blurred vision caused by cataracts. The condition is easily treatable with surgery but she has decided against the operation, at least for now.
“It’s all right. I can still see things,” Gu, a former accountant, said. “We retirees should live frugally and try to avoid medical bills.
“I’m saving for my sons and grandchildren. When they grow old, it may be harder for them to lead a quality life.”
