The ratio of senior citizens aged 65 and over to all South Koreans has hit a record high in 2015, government data showed Thursday, a clear sign that the population is aging at a fast pace.
  

According to the data by Statistics Korea, 13.1 percent of the country's population of 50.61 million are aged 65 or older, higher than the 12.7 percent tallied in 2014.
  

This marks the highest ratio ever. In 1960, when related data started to be compiled, the ratio stood at just 2.9 percent.
  

The agency expects the percentage to further increase to 15.7 percent in 2020, rise to 24.3 percent in 2030, when the country's population is expected to peak, and soar to 40.1 percent in 2060.
  

There have been growing fears that South Korea is fast becoming an "aged society," in which more than 14 percent of the population is 65 or older. Asia's fourth-largest economy became an "aging society" in 2000, when the ratio topped 7 percent, and is likely to be classified as an aged society in 2017 or 2018 at the latest.
  

Experts worry that the aging population, coupled with the low birthrate, poses a serious threat to the nation's economy as it could lead to fewer working people and increased spending on health and welfare. The country has one of the lowest birthrates among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development member states.
  

According to the data, 5.6 working-age people are supporting the livelihood of one senior citizen this year, down from 5.8 to 1 last year. If the current low birthrate continues, the ratio is expected to fall to 4.5 in 2020, plunge to 2.6 in 2030 and 1.2 in 2060.
  

The decrease in numbers translates into younger people paying more taxes and other outlays to support senior citizens.
  

Slightly over 31 percent of the seniors were employed in 2014, with 41.9 percent of the men having jobs. This is a slight gain from 30.9 percent reported in 2013. There are no numbers for this year.
  

As of this year, 61 percent of people between the ages of 55 and 79 wanted to work, the data showed.
  

"A majority of them wanted to work because they needed to supplement their retirement benefits, while quite a few said they sought employment because they liked working," the statistical office said.
  

When picking jobs, senior citizens placed the greatest priority on working hours, followed by wage levels and future job security.
  

The data also showed that 30.6 percent of the country's basic livelihood security benefit recipients were seniors, with 39.6 percent of them getting some sort of state pension.
  

The average pension received by people aged between 55 and 79 stood at 490,000 won ($411.8), although about half of all senior pensioners got 100,000-250,000 won per month. (Yonhap)