In contrast, China is projected to enter the demographic burden period when its per capita income remains in the range 8,000 to 10,000 U.S. dollars (according to the projection of the International Monetary Fund [IMF]) – the level that defines a medium income economy.
This reflects the effect of China’s one child policy in rapidly reducing fertility rates since its launch in 1979 and the decline in the youth population ratio from around 1980 (Chart 6). Simultaneously, rapid aging has already made China an aging society, and the elderly population ratio surpassed the 7 percent threshold by 2000.