Society & Demographics News and Discussions

[wjfox]

In 50 years, half of Koreans are expected to be 65 or older

Dec.15,2023 16:54 KST

After hitting its peak in 2020, the South Korean population is forecast to drop to 36 million in 50 years. Chronically low birth rates are expected to drop the total fertility rate to below the previously inconceivable threshold of 0.7 births per woman by next year. In 50 years, those 65 and older are expected to comprise half of Korea’s population. A grim forecast for Korea, some have likened this coupling of plummeting fertility and an aging society to the Black Death, while others are calling it a “mass suicide.”

According to a report on population trends published by Statistics Korea on Thursday, South Korea’s population came to 51.67 million in 2022, which slightly increased to 51.71 million in 2023. However, by 2072, it’s expected to drop to 36.22 million. This would mean a 30% decrease (15.45 million people) in just 50 years.

https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english ... 20598.html

[caltrek]

In 50 years, half of Koreans are expected to be 65 or older

...
https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english ... 20598.html

A few possibilities:

1) Increased immigration to offset labor shortages.

2) AI and robots doing increased levels of work.

3) Delay in the age of retirement.

If these fail to materialize at adequate levels:

3) Shorter life expectancy due to inadequate care of the elderly, especially amongst those that are least able to take care of themselves.

4) If 1 does not happen - lower population densities leading to lower rents and housing costs.

More complicated is the likely impact on export and import trade.

[wjfox]

[raklian]

I wonder what's next? AI matchmaking?

[firestar464]

Very likely, given that AI ends up analyzing people better than people.

[raklian]

Very likely, given that AI ends up analyzing people better than people.

What if it ends up recommending itself as the best match?

I wouldn't be surprised many humans will be sexual-fluid enough to date and hold relationships with AI-based entities, at least on an emotional level.

This may begin to exacerbate low child-birth rates for a while until this issue is mitigated by artificial wombs and LEV gains unless we somehow transition to a human-machine hybrid existence thanks to rapid AI/ASI-mediated breakthroughs which will cause the population of biological humans to continue declining.

[firestar464]

"no no, I want like, a real person"

[weatheriscool]

[Tadasuke]

source: https://www.worldometers.info

[wjfox]