China’s population has continued to fall for the third year in a row, with a decline of 1.39 million over the past 12 months, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This marks a steady decrease since the 1980s and a significant shift from the country’s earlier efforts to slow down the declining birthrate.
The NBS reported that deaths outpaced births in 2024, contributing to the population decline. Beijing has implemented various measures, including subsidies for childcare, labelling single women as “leftovers,” and increasing the mandatory retirement age, but these efforts have failed to reverse the trend.
Marriages increased by 12.4% year-on-year in 2023, partly due to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, which had a brief impact on birth rates. However, experts argue that this was an isolated phenomenon and that the overall population decline remains a pressing concern.
China’s economy has grown, but at a slower rate than expected. The country is facing challenges including rising costs of living, youth unemployment, and a high preference for male children, making it less appealing to have more children.
China is not alone in its demographic crisis. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are also experiencing population decline due to similar factors, including restrictions on immigration and limited access to fertility treatments.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/17/chinas-population-falls-for-third-year-in-a-row-as-birthrate-declines