China's old-age dependency ratio surpassed its child dependency ratio for the first time in 2025, reaching 23.1 per cent compared to 22 per cent for children, according to official data published by the National Bureau of Statistics. The demographic turning point is placing pressure on public pension and healthcare systems while expanding investment demand across the longevity economy.
China's official manufacturing PMI fell to 49.3 in October, dropping below the 50-point mark separating expansion from contraction. The non-manufacturing index also slid to 49.7 as consumer goods demand softened and international oil prices pushed up raw material costs. Economists noted that domestic demand will require stronger policy support if global demand softens in 2027.
China's annual outbound direct investment reached $213.58 billion, surpassing $200 billion for the first time with an 11.1 percent year-on-year increase. Outbound flows to the Middle East more than doubled, with the United Arab Emirates leading the region by attracting $2.6 billion. The UAE figure represents more than triple the volume of Chinese direct investment received in the preceding year.
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