In 2033, the Seoul metropolitan city will have already been a super-aged society for more than seven years, where the elderly population of 65 years and older will account for 25.3 percent of the city’s total 10 million population.
According to a population outlook for 2033 released by the Seoul government on Tuesday, the number of aged people in the capital city will reach 2.39 million in 2033, up from 1.08 million in 2013.
The report said that the city’s senior population will break the 20-percent line in 2024, leaving a decrease in the number of economically active people. This will also naturally increase the burden for younger generations to support their senior dependents.
In 2013, Seoul’s population type was classified as a “water pot” in which the middle aged group formed the largest portion of the population. In 2033, the type will be transformed into an inverted pyramid, where there are more senior citizens than young people.
According to the outlook, the average age in Seoul will be 48.6 years old in 2033, 9.6 years up from 39 in 2013.
The number of economically active people aged from 15 to 64 in 2033 will hit 63.6 percent of the population, with 6.02 million, down from 76.4 percent with 7.58 million in 2013, a decrease of 1.56 million over 20 years.
During the same period, the number of people older than 65 years will increase to 2.39 million from 1.08 million in 2013, leaving the younger and middle aged groups heavily burdened with supporting them.
This will also cause generational conflict to deepen among the age groups, the city’s population outlook said.
The number of advanced citizens subject to receive sustenance expenses per every 100 people will rise to 57.2 people in 2033 from 30.9 in 2013.
The number of schooling population aged six to 21 years old is expected to fall to 1.14 million in 2033 from 1.63 million in 2013, the report said.
It said the total population of Seoul is predicted to be 9.46 million in 2033, and probably will break the 9-million line soon after. (Yonhap)
