Vietnam among Asia's fastest-aging nations

A population is considered "aged" when 14% of its population is 65 years old or older.

A woman, then 82, sits at her store in Hanoi, June 2023. Photo by Quynh Duong

The regions experiencing the fastest aging include the Red River Delta and Mekong Delta, with aging rates - the ratio of the population aged 60 and above to those under 15 years old - reaching 76.8% and 70.6%, respectively. In contrast, the Central Highlands has the lowest rate at 37%.

Ho Chi Minh City is particularly notable, rapidly becoming Vietnam's fastest-aging locality. Currently, more than 1.3 million of its residents, or about 12.5%, are aged 60 or older. Experts forecast this number will rise significantly, with seniors expected to comprise around 20% of the city's population by 2030.

This demographic shift presents challenges across various sectors, including economic growth, labor markets, social security, infrastructure and healthcare services. The growing elderly population is anticipated to increase financial pressures on the younger working-age population.

Although Vietnamese citizens enjoy relatively long lifespans, on average, they spend around 14 years coping with chronic illnesses. Among Southeast Asian nations, Vietnamese women have the second-longest average lifespan at 77.3 years, while men rank fifth at 72.3.

Common health issues among the elderly include chronic diseases requiring lifelong treatment, such as hypertension, diabetes, and dementia. As a result, healthcare expenditures for seniors are increasing, placing additional stress on the national budget and the healthcare insurance system.