The country is moving from a golden population stage to an ageing society in a much shorter timeframe than many others in the region.

By 2038, the current peak in the working-age population is expected to end. This means greater pressure on social welfare systems such as pensions and other welfare support.

A key driver is the declining birth rate. A 2025 survey by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour showed that 73% of single workers delayed marriage due to insufficient income. More than half of married workers said they either did not want children or were hesitant to have more because their earnings could not keep up with living costs.

Many young people shared the view that financial readiness must come before starting a family. For some, concerns about job security, childcare expenses, or potential disruption to career goals also played a role.

Low birth rates are contributing to a widening gap between the elderly and the youth. The Mekong Delta and the Red River Delta currently have the highest ageing indices nationwide, at 76.8% and 70.6%, respectively. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam’s two largest cities, also have the highest elderly population shares. Workers there are facing increasing strain as the cost of living outpaces income growth.

By 2029, the ageing rate is projected to rise to one in every six people being over 60. Meanwhile, fewer than 50% of the elderly currently have an income, and only around 20% receive a pension. According to Professor Nguyen Dinh Cu, former director of the Institute of Population and Social Issues at the National Economics University, the average elderly person suffers from three chronic diseases.

He noted, “Only 20% of the elderly receive a pension. Even when including social assistance, the number still falls short of 50%.”

Alongside the challenge of “getting old before getting rich,” Vietnam also faces the question of how to help young people become financially secure before growing old.

Dr. Dinh Huy Duong, former director of the Department of Communication and Education at the General Office for Population under the Ministry of Health, stressed the need to improve job access and income for young people.

“We need policies that encourage young people to prepare for the future. That includes education, employment opportunities, and better infrastructure, so more of them can join the workforce, contribute to society, and build savings,” he said.

An ageing population means a shrinking workforce and changing job structure. This raises the economic burden on younger generations, especially as people live longer and face deteriorating health. Many seniors also lack savings due to years of living on tight budgets.

Experts warn that unless these challenges are dealt with early, rising prices and stagnant wages will deepen financial stress. Long-term social welfare planning is urgently needed to slow the pace of ageing and make the most of the country’s demographic window of opportunity.

Population ageing challenges Vietnam

There are now more than 10 million elderly people in Vietnam, of whom 2 million are over eighty years old. Vietnam has had an ageing population since 2011 with its ageing pace among the fastest in the world, posing a serious challenge to the country.