China’s population has fallen for a third consecutive year, with 1.408 billion people in 2024 compared to 1.409 billion in 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The decline is driven by a higher number of deaths than births, with 10.93 million deaths and 9.54 million births reported.
Experts warn that this trend will continue, putting pressure on China’s economy. Rising costs for elderly care and retirement benefits are expected to add strain on already indebted local governments.
The one-child policy implemented in 1980 has led to a decrease in birth rates over the decades. The high cost of childcare, education, and job uncertainty have discouraged many young Chinese from getting married and starting a family.
Demographers say that without fundamental structural changes, such as improving social safety nets and eliminating gender discrimination, China’s population decline cannot be reversed.
To address this issue, authorities have introduced measures to boost birth rates, including integrating marriage and “love education” into university curriculums. However, the number of marriages is expected to fall again in 2025.
The country’s population is aging rapidly, with the number of women of reproductive age set to drop by more than two-thirds by the end of the century. The retirement-age population is expected to increase to over 400 million by 2035, straining the pension system, which will run out of funds by 2035.
China’s urbanization has led to an increase in people living in cities, with 943.3 million people now residing there, while the rural population declined to 464.78 million.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-population-falls-third-consecutive-year-2025-01-17