The statistical analysis on major indicators of the elderly

July 27, 2000

With the economic growth of our country and political democracy in recent years, citizens have more concerns and greater needs for social welfare. With the decreasing birth rate and increasing expectancy of life, the age structure of population has changed from the pyramid shape to be the shape of bowling pin. Great impact has been brought by the aging society and the reformation of population. As of September of 2000, there are more than 1.9 million people more than 65 years old in Taiwan and Fuchien Area (the elderly population). They account for 8.57% of the total population. Thus, the issues of elderly population are emerging, no matter in the aspects of economics, medical care and family living, or in the aspects of education, recreation, home care, psychological and social adaptation. The issues demand the government and related institutions to take responding measures.

The issues of the elderly population are broad. The following is a summarized analysis on statistics from household registration of the elderly and "the statistics on causes of death in 1999" by Department of Health of the Executive Yuan. They are:

I. The percentage of the elderly population is rapidly growing in recent years. The percentage of the elderly population as of September of 2000 in Taiwan and Fuchien Area is 8.6%.

Citizens' notion of raising children has been greatly changed due to the promotion of family planning and social evolution over the past few decades. The growth in population has slowed down. The birth rate is declining. Getting marriage at a later age becomes prevalent and expectancy of life has prolonged. As a result, there is a significant change in the age structure of population in Taiwan and Fuchien Area. The percentage of infantile population is decreasing over the years. The percentage of the elderly population is increasing over the years. In 1989, there were approximately 1.2 million elderly persons over 65 years old, who accounted for 6.0% of the total population. In 1993, there were 1.49 million elderly persons over 65 years old, who accounted for 7.1% of the total population. Thus, Taiwan and Fuchien Area is deemed as an elderly society by the standard of the United Nation (According to the definition, an elderly society is one whose elderly population accounts for 7% or more). Our country has become an elderly society since 1993. In 1999, there are 1.87 million elderly persons over 65 years old, who account for 8.4% of the total population. The annual increase rate of the elderly population in Taiwan and Fuchien is 4.5% in the past 10 years, which is far higher than the average annual increase rate of total population (0.9%). As of the end of September 2000, there are 1.9 million elderly persons over 65 years old, who account for 8.6% of the total population.

II. As of the end of September 2000, the aging index of Taiwan-Fuchien Area population is 40.4%.

The aging index is an indicator evaluating a nation or an area for its degree of aging. It is the percentage of population over 65 to the population less than 15. In 1989, the aging index in Taiwan-Fuchien Area was 21.7%. In 1999, the aging index was 39.4%. At the end of September 2000, the aging index is 40.4%. Thus, the percentage of the population less than 15 is decreasing over the years. It shows that Taiwan-Fuchien Area is rapidly entering into the stage of an aging society. Thus, related government agencies should take properly measures and conduct effective planning with regards to welfare and services for the elderly.

III. The number of elderly persons over 65 years deceased in 1999 is 78,843. The death rate is 4,290 person deceased in per 100,000 persons. The number of elderly persons over 65 years deceased in the earthquake (on September 21, 1999) is 645 persons.

The number of elderly persons over 65 years deceased in 1999 is 78,843. They accounted for 63.1% of the total deceased persons in Taiwan Area for that year. The death rate is 4,290 persons deceased in per 100,000 persons. The death rate for male is 4,670 persons deceased in per 100,000 persons. The death rate for female is 3,853 persons deceased in per 100,000 persons. The death rate for male is higher than the death rate for female. There were 645 elderly persons deceased in the earthquake on September 21 (male: 306 persons, female: 339 persons). They accounted for 27.5% of the total number of persons deceased in the earthquake on September 21 (2,347 persons in total).

IV. Malignant neoplasm is the major cause of death of the elderly population. Twice of male persons (as compared to female) die of malignant neoplasm.

The first five causes of death of elderly persons over 65 years in 1999 are: (1) malignant neoplasm: the number of deceased persons is 17,104 (accounting for 21.7%); the death rate is 931 persons in per 100,000 persons; (2) brain/cardiovascular disease: the number of deceased persons is 9,702 (accounting for 12.3%); the rate is 528 persons in every 100,000 persons; (3) heart disease: the number of deceased persons is 8,696 (accounting for 11.0%); the death rate is 473 persons in per 100,000 persons; (4) diabetes mellitus: the number of deceased persons is 6,749 (accounting for 8.6%); the death rate is 367 persons deceased in per 100,000 persons; (5) accidents: the number of deceased persons is 3,491 (accounting for 4.3%); the death rate is 190 persons deceased in per 100,000 persons. Among them, 645 persons were deceased in the earthquake on September 21, 1999. In terms of gender, the first five causes of death for male elderly persons over 65 years are: (1) malignant neoplasm: 11,182 persons (accounting for 24.4%); (2) cerbrovascular diseases: 5,303 persons (accounting for 11.6%); (3) heart disease: 4,914 persons (accounting for 10.7%); (4) diabetes mellitus: 2,840 persons (accounting for 6.2%); (5) pneumonia: 2,236 persons (accounting for 4.9%). The first five causes of death for female elderly persons over 65 years are: (1) malignant neoplasm: 5,922 persons (accounting for 18%); (2) cerbrovascular diseases: 4,399 persons (accounting for 13.4%); (3) diabetes accounting for: 3,909 persons (accounting for 11.9%); (4) heart disease: 3,782 persons (accounting for 11.5%); (5) nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis: 1,325 persons (accounting for 4.0%). The above indicates that the major causes of male elderly persons over 65 years are different from those of female elderly persons over 65 years (in sequence and contents). Twice of male elderly persons over 65 years suffer death from malignant neoplasm as compared to female elderly persons over 65 years. This should be studied by related agencies.

V. The average remaining years of life at age over 65 years persons for both genders in 1998 were 16 years. For male, it was 15 years and for female, it was 17 years.

According to Abridged Life Tables of Taiwan-Fuchien Area for 1998, the average remaining years of life at age over 65 years persons for both genders were 15.89 years. For male, it was 14.98 years and for female, it was 17.20 years. When compared to 1992, there were an increase of 0.29 year for male elderly persons over 65 years over the past 6 years and an increase of 0.5 year for female elderly persons over 65 years. The above indicates that the increase for female elderly persons over 65 years far exceeded the increase for male elderly persons over 65 years in recent years. In 1998, the overall life expectancy at birth for nationals was 72.2 years for male and 77.96 years for female. If adding the remaining years of life to the elderly persons over 65 years, the life expectancy at birth for male should be 80.89 years and 82.20 years for female.

VI. Malignant neoplasm takes 2.0 years of life expectancy from male elderly persons over 65 years and 1.6 years of life expectancy from female elderly persons over 65 years.

If the first major cause of death: malignant neoplasm was eliminated on Abridged Life Tables of Taiwan-Fuchien Area fir 1998, the remaining years of life for elderly persons over 65 years are 17.85 years for both genders. For male, it would be 16.95 years and for female, it would be 18.82 years. When comparing the remaining years of life for elderly persons over 65 years in 1998 to the above figures, there are 1.96 years less for both genders, 1.97 years less for male elderly persons over 65 years and 1.62 years less for female elderly persons over 65 years. If brain/cardiovascular disease was eliminated, there are 1.11 years less for both genders of elderly persons, 0.93 year less for male elderly persons and 1.18 years less for female elderly persons. If heart disease was deleted, there are 1.00 year less for both genders, 0.77 year less for male elderly persons over 65 years and 1.12 year less for female elderly persons over 65 years.