China has to figure out how to care for 400 million people over the age of 60 by 2040 — and it's off to a rocky start

January 17 was a historic day for China. After decades of styling itself as a powerhouse of unfettered growth, the country revealed that its population had declined for the first time since the 1960s.

And with life expectancy rising and birthrates sinking to record lows even after ending the one-child policy in 2016, China's 1.4 billion population isn't just shrinking — it's also aging, fast.

This landmark moment signifies a monumental shift in how China must chart its future. Left unchecked, an aging population presents crises on multiple fronts: The country will have more elderly people in need of healthcare, and at the same time fewer and fewer working age adults to drive the very economy that funds this care.