Advanced countries that gave up on "having children," drastic measures... "Work until 70 years old"

Low birth rates cannot be prevented by childcare welfare alone
Elderly must work longer by delaying retirement
"The concept of retirement must be overcome"

Not only in Korea but also in advanced countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, birth rates are rapidly declining. Some experts predict that it is practically too late to 'reverse' low birth rates and aging populations. Instead, there is a claim that to prevent the imminent population cliff, the retirement age of the elderly aged 65 and over should be delayed.

On the 20th (local time), the BBC focused on the birth rate trends in advanced English-speaking countries. According to the most recent data from 2022, the birth rate in the United States is 1.62 children per woman, and in the United Kingdom (England and Wales) it is 1.5, both steadily decreasing. The 'replacement fertility rate' to keep the population stable is 2.1 children per woman. Without relying on external factors such as immigration, both countries are on a path of natural population decline.

Above all, the decline in birth rates in advanced countries has been a consistent trend over the past several decades. Typically, Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, and China have been cited as representative cases of low birth rates and aging populations, but the interpretation is that the United States and Europe are converging on the same path as Asia, differing only in speed.

On the 26th of last month, elderly people are resting under the shade of trees in a park in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.
Photo by Jo Yongjun

So, is there really no way to reverse low birth rates? Experts are already predicting that it is too late. Professor Sarah Harper of Oxford University told the BBC, "Many countries are trying to increase birth rates by providing generous childcare services such as tax cuts and extended maternity leave, but such policies rarely reverse the downward trend."

Generally, as women's education levels rise, birth rates decline. This is because women's incomes increase accordingly. When women become mothers, household income decreases. Therefore, it is more advantageous for women to remain childless and continue their careers.

However, experts believe that there is no 'demographic time bomb.' It is possible to increase the working-age population necessary for economic growth without necessarily raising birth rates. A representative method is the large-scale immigration systems already implemented by advanced countries in the United States and Europe.

Another way to maintain the working-age population without relying on immigration is to delay the retirement age. The BBC highlighted Singapore as a prime example of this approach. Singapore offers re-employment up to the age of 69 and maintains a healthy population through a robust healthcare system.

Currently, Singapore's official retirement age is 63, but it is expected to rise to 65 in 2026 and remain at 65 in 2030. The age at which people can continue working after re-employment is planned to be extended up to 70.

Ronald Lee, Professor Emeritus at the University of California, told the media, "In the United States, the proportion of people aged 65 and over who work and consume is increasing," adding, "This is not a bad thing at all. Overcoming the notion that elderly people deserve long retirements and leisure time is the basic attitude going forward."