Taipei: Taiwan has become the world’s fastest ageing country this decade, overtaking Japan, the US, Britain and other developed nations, according to a report published on Monday by the National Development Council (NDC).

With a total population of 23.4 million, there are 2.86 people aged 65 and above, EFE news reported.

The council predicts this segment will account for more than 14 percent of the population in 2018 and 20 percent in 2025, making Taiwan an aged and a super-aged society.

An increase from seven percent to 14 percent in the proportion of retirees took 85 years in Sweden and 73 years in the US, The Business Standard.

But in Taiwan, it will take only 25 years, which underlines the nation’s quick ageing rate, the report said.

In 2019, the death-rate will be higher than the birth-rate and population will begin to decrease and by 2060, for every 100 active people, there will be 96.9 dependents, 17.1 children and 79.9 elderly, it added.