<Anchor> This
is a friendly economic time.
Reporter Han Ji-yeon is here.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk seems to be very interested in this and that, but he was worried about the birth rate in Korea.
<Reporter>
Yes, I was worried about the worst population problem by taking a picture of Korea.
On his Twitter, he shared the 2020 fertility rate rankings by country provided by the World Bank.
Musk said South Korea and Hong Kong are experiencing the fastest population collapses, especially if South Korea's fertility rate does not change, after three generations the population will be less than 6%, most of them will be in their 60s or older.
This is not the first time Musk, who has seven children, has been so concerned about the population, he has also expressed concern about the low birth rates in Japan and Italy.
It was often mentioned in discussions.
[Elon Musk/Tesla CEO: I think the biggest problem the world will face in 20 years is 'population collapse.']
Musk's recent takeover of Twitter and stock price decline This is impressive.
<Anchor>
So, the fact that the birth rate in Korea is so low that Musk is worried is a very serious problem right now.
What problems arise when the fertility rate is so low?
<Reporter>
Yes, it seems that the expression '50 million people' will no longer be used in the future.
In 2050, the total population of Korea will decrease by 8.6% from 2020, reaching 47 million.
However, this figure is based on a scenario based on basic assumptions.
In a more pessimistic scenario for fertility rates and life expectancy, they will drop by more than 16% to 43 million in 2050.
By region, the total population of Gyeonggi, Sejong, and Jeju and Chungnam increases, but the remaining 13 cities and provinces decrease.
In particular, Ulsan, Daegu, and Busan showed a decrease in the total population of more than 25%.
In 2050, the total population in Seoul will decrease by 17.7%.
In the worst case scenario, all but Sejong will decrease in 2050. In the case of Seoul, 25.1%, or a quarter of the population, will evaporate.
<Anchor>
That's right.
However, the population is shrinking like this, but fewer people are born, while medical technology is developing and life expectancy is increasing a lot.
So, I think there will be more people who are older now. What is the level of Korea's aging process, especially in Korea?
<Reporter>
Yes, if you look at the proportion of the elderly population in the total population when you are 65 or older, it will rise from 15.7% in 2020 to 40% in 2050.
4 out of 10 people are over 65.
As a result, the median age will also increase.
The median age is the age of the person in the middle when the entire population is arranged in age order.
More than 14 years old.
By region, Jeonnam has the highest age at 48.5 in 2020, and it will rise to 64.5 by 2050.
If you line them up by age, the person in the middle is almost 65 years old.
Fewer children are born and aging is increasing.
Gyeongbuk, Gangwon, Jeonbuk, Gyeongnam, and Busan are the regions where the median age in 2050 is over 60.
In 2020, the median age of Sejong, the lowest at 37.8, will rise to 50.9 by 2050.
The median age in Seoul is expected to rise from 42.8 to 55.4.
<Anchor>
What is worrying about this aging phenomenon is that, in terms of age, the number of people of working age who can actively work is greatly reduced.
To what extent do you think it will be severely reduced?
<Reporter>
Yes, I see the working-age population as being between 15 and 64 years old.
It is predicted that over 30 years, 10 million people, or 35%, will decrease to the 24 million level.
The proportion of the total population exceeded 70% in 2020, but will be halved by 2050.
By city and province, the working-age population is on the decline in all but one place in 2027. By 2050, the rate of decline in Ulsan, Daegu, and Busan was close to 50%.
One area that is increasing is Sejong, which has recently seen an influx of population for reasons such as housing.
It is expected to increase by nearly 50%.
As the number of people working is decreasing and the aging population continues, it has been shown that the working-age population will have to support at least one elderly person in Jeonnam, Gyeongbuk, Jeonbuk, and Gangwon.