PAPP101 - S03: How demographers think about populations: age and sex

The age structural transition (cont.)

Asian Tigers

The expression ‘Asian Tigers’ (or sometimes ‘Asian Dragons’) refers to a set of Asian countries that had exceptionally high economic growth rates and increasing social development since the early 1960s. The countries usually referred to are Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, but Thailand and Malaysia are also sometimes included.

This period of economic growth coincides with huge changes to the age structures and dependency ratios of these countries.

Use the tabs to switch between Singapore and Taiwan.

• Singapore
• Taiwan

 

Exercise

1. What are the differences between Singapore and Taiwan by the end of the projected period?

a) Taiwan has a higher total dependency ratio due to a higher child dependency ratio (CDR) b) Singapore has both a higher old-age dependency ratio and a higher child dependency ratio c) The dependency ratios are the same Check your answer Please select an answer Incorrect, please try again. No, sorry. Try again. Correct!

2. What are the potential challenges facing these countries due to future changes in their dependency ratios?

a) Providing financial support for the elderly b) Education provision c) Provision of nursery places d) Provision of maternity services e) Providing health care which can cope with the challenges of multiple chronic diseases Check your answer The correct answers are a) and e).