More land has to be made available for the building of homes for the elderly in China, according to a recently unveiled regulation.

The new requirement was issued on June 9 by the ministries of civil affairs, land and resources, finance, and housing and urban-rural development, to address the lack of nursing institutions for elderly people across the country.

New residential districts are required to be equipped with home-based or community service institutions while built-up housing estates should introduce such facilities within a year, according to the regulation.

Land for such facilities cannot be used for other purposes, the regulation says, adding that inspections will be conducted to tighten supervision.

The population of those at or above 60 hit 202 million in China at the end of 2013, totaling 15 percent of the population. The figure is expected to exceed 300 million by 2025. Two thirds of them live with illnesses, and more than 36 million are unable to take care of themselves to some extent.