Taipei home to most of Taiwan’s centenarians

2014-09-24

Taipei is home to 604 centenarians, the highest number among the nation’s 22 administrative districts, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare Sept. 22.

MOHW statistics show that over 60 percent of centenarians reside in the country’s five major cities, with 401 in New Taipei, 191 in Taichung, 188 in Kaohsiung and 167 in Tainan. The oldest ROC national is a male aged 113 in New Taipei.

As of August, there were 2,525 seniors over the age of 100 in Taiwan, up 349 or 16 percent from a year ago. The figure has grown at an annual rate of 13.5 percent over the past decade.

“This trend underscores improvements in Taiwan’s economy,” an MOHW official said. “It also bears testament to the country’s higher living standards and National Health Insurance.

“Fundamental changes in the development of Taiwan, including better nutrition, living and working conditions, as well as more effective control of contagious diseases, are enabling citizens to live longer, healthier lives.”

Separately, the MOHW said central and local governments will stage a series of activities celebrating the upcoming Double Nine Festival and pay respects to the country’s 2.76 million senior citizens.

Falling on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, the festival is a tradition among ethnic Chinese communities worldwide. Taiwan started observing the event in 1977.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=222022&CtNode=413)