As many as 75% of Taiwanese people aged 50 and older said they are barely making ends meet, according to a white paper released by the Interior Ministry this Wednesday. Their findings indicate that although Taiwan’s per capita GDP growth has been good, it has not translated into a sense of financial security for the middle-aged and elderly population.

As of December 2025, the senior citizen proportion of the population surpassed 20%, officially making Taiwan a super-aged society. DBS Foundation collaborated with CommonWealth Magazine to conduct a survey of people aged 40 and older across the country to find out how prepared the population is for aging. This survey informed the “2026 Ageless Society White Paper.”

According to the white paper, Taiwan’s aging is accelerating, but the expansion of high-quality, dignified living has not kept pace. Women in particular live longer, but spend an average of 8.57 years in poor health versus men’s 6.96 years; they also experience higher rates of disability, depression, and loneliness.

In addition, financial anxiety among nearly three quarters of respondents aged 50 and above is indicative of a disconnect between macroeconomic performance and individuals’ sense of security later in life. 

Finally, the survey shows that labor force participation in Taiwan drops sharply after age 55 and falls below 10% by age 65, showing that middle-aged and older workers are excluded from the labor market too early and further undermining individual financial resilience. 

The white paper notes that effectively increasing labor participation among middle-aged and older adults could not only ease labor shortages but also help delay cognitive decline among seniors. It also calls for narrowing the gap between average life expectancy and unhealthy years by building muscle strength early, cultivating regular exercise habits, and strengthening social connections.