Ho Chi Minh City faces growing challenges from rapidly aging population

Ho Chi Minh City’s aging population is increasing rapidly, surpassing previous forecasts and posing significant challenges for the city, officials say.

The trend was discussed at a monitoring session held on Tuesday by the National Assembly’s Committee on Culture and Social Affairs, reviewing population-related policies and laws between 2018 and 2024.

According to Dr. Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, deputy director of the municipal Department of Health, the city officially entered the aging phase in 2017, six years after the national average, when residents aged 60 and older accounted for 10.28 percent of the population.

Despite the delayed onset, the pace of aging has since accelerated.

By 2024, the proportion of elderly residents had risen to 11.87 percent, or more than 1.1 million people.

From 2017 to 2024, the number of older adults increased by approximately 243,500, averaging nearly 35,000 new elderly residents each year.

The average life expectancy in Ho Chi Minh City has also risen, reaching 76.6 years in 2024, higher than the national average.

Chau said the sharp increase in the elderly population highlights the need for targeted policies and infrastructure improvements to ensure quality of life for seniors.

Data from the city’s Statistics Bureau shows that the aging index reached 65.2 in 2024, exceeding the national average of 60.18.

The index indicates that for every 100 people under the age of 15, there are 65.2 people aged 60 and above.

Limited healthcare services for the elderly

While the population continues to age rapidly, healthcare services and social support systems for older adults remain limited.

Chau noted that the city lacks a comprehensive health data system for tracking healthy life expectancy.

Access to elderly-focused care remains insufficient, and infrastructure has not kept pace with demographic changes.

Ho Chi Minh City also continues to report a low total fertility rate.

In 2024, the rate stood at 1.39 children per woman, placing the city among the 21 provinces and municipalities with the lowest birth rates in Vietnam.

The combination of low fertility and rising life expectancy has contributed to a faster aging process, workforce shortages, and increased strain on social welfare systems.

In response, city officials are calling on the central government to adopt a comprehensive policy framework for addressing aging.

Recommendations include encouraging the economic participation of older adults, particularly those with high levels of skill and experience, and adapting the labor market and welfare systems to an aging economy.

Other proposals include reforms to the pension system, expanding the range of available insurance products -- especially voluntary insurance for older residents -- and creating urban spaces and services that are accessible to seniors.

The city is also urging greater private sector involvement in elderly care, with recommendations to facilitate land use, infrastructure investment, and tax incentives, along with policies to develop a skilled care workforce.

Abortion rate remains high

The session also addressed reproductive health indicators, including the city’s abortion rate.

In 2017, the rate was 42.1 cases per 100 live births.

By 2024, it had fallen to 31.14 cases per 100 live births, achieving the goal of reducing the figure below 40.

The city reported that unsafe abortions have been nearly eliminated, and the teenage abortion rate remained below three percent, declining to 2.31 percent in 2024 from 2.47 percent in 2017.

However, Ta Van Ha, deputy chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Culture and Social Affairs, said the abortion rate remains high and called for stronger intervention measures to further reduce it.

Bao Anh - Thu Hien / Tuoi Tre News

(2025/04/03-18:28)