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Defusing China's demographic time bomb | Hafiz Khan on AlJazeera


Will the world's most populous nation review its 'one-child policy' as an ageing society places a strain on the young?

China's new leadership will soon be confronted by an enormous demographic challenge. The country's 'one-child policy' means not enough babies are being born to support its elderly population. Around 12 years ago, there were six workers for every retiree, but by the year 2030 it is estimated that there will be just two. By 2050, one-third of China's population is expected to be aged over 60.

To discuss this AlJazeera's Inside Story, with presenter Tony Harris, is joined by guests: Andrew Leung, an economist, political commentator and former Hong Kong government representative to the UK; Hafiz Khan, a senior lecturer in applied statistics and a visiting research fellow at the University of Oxford's Institute of Population Ageing; and Yong Cai, a fellow at the Carolina Population Centre at the University of North Carolina.

> View AlJazeera's feature: 'Defusing China's demographic timebomb'