SINGAPORE, April 21 — The strong foundation Singapore has laid for an ageing society means that the nation is now in a position to cushion the impact of a greying population and perhaps “even reap the dividends” from it, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said.

The country first thought about issues related to the ageing population 40 years ago and has been actively addressing these issues ever since, he said yesterday (April 20) in Parliament.

And if the country continues pressing on with this journey, it will be able to remain a “superb” country, even though it will also be considered a “super-aged” one, he added.

A super-aged society is defined as having 21 per cent of the population aged 65 and above.

Singapore is expected to reach that threshold in 2026, Mr Ong said as he laid out plans for how the country can further prepare for the challenges of an ageing society.

He was speaking on the fourth day of a debate on President Halimah Yacob’s address, which was delivered when Parliament reopene...