China's island province reports growing elderly population

HAIKOU - The population aged over 60 in China's southernmost island province of Hainan reached over 1.41 million, accounting for 15.2 percent of its whole population, according to the provincial health commission.

The population of the province was 9.28 million last year, with an increase of 140,900 over the previous year. Among them, the number of people aged 60 and above increased by 58,000, people aged 65 and above by 45,400, and those aged 80 and above by 20,300, a report from the commission showed.

Hainan has nearly 2,200 centenarians, with the oldest citizen 119 years old, according to the report.

The province entered aging society in 2011. Life expectancy of the resort island is expected to exceed 80 years old by 2030.