How China plans to make its elderly population a growth engine
China has rolled out new policies to turn its ageing population into an economic driver, targeting more than 310 million people aged 60 and above as part of a push to expand the so-called “silver economy.”
The measures were announced on Tuesday by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, alongside the ministries of commerce and industry and information technology, and focus on elderly care, senior consumption and age-friendly technology.
They aim to address two pressures at once: rapid demographic ageing and the need to boost domestic demand as economic growth slows.
At the centre of the plan is an expansion of elderly care services beyond traditional nursing homes. Authorities want care providers to scale up home-based services through chain operations that can be replicated across communities.
To support this, e-commerce platforms and large retailers are being urged to better match supply and demand for elderly care services, making them easier to access both online and offline.
The measures also seek to create new ways for seniors to spend. Community facilities such as county-level care platforms and senior activity centres will double as spaces to display, rent and sell age-friendly products.
Elderly care services have also been folded into China’s “15-minute convenient life circle” scheme, which aims to ensure essential services are within walking distance of residential areas.
By mid-2025, nearly 6,300 pilot life-circle zones had been established nationwide, benefiting around 129 million people, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Authorities are also promoting the development of senior-friendly shopping streets, designed to combine retail with social, cultural and leisure activities.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said it will prioritise the use of health monitors, rehabilitation aids and humanoid robots in homes, communities and care institutions.
To boost online participation, platforms are being required to optimise “senior modes” and launch dedicated silver-economy shopping channels.
More than 10 major e-commerce platforms have already been adapted to improve accessibility for older users.
Additional steps include senior discounts and themed shopping campaigns, aimed at encouraging more frequent consumer spending.
For Chinese officials, these measures signal a long-term shift, as the country prepares for the silver economy to become a permanent pillar of growth rather than a niche sector.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
