China’s birthrate hits historic low since 1949
Figures from the National Statistics Bureau show that the birthrate dropped to 5.6 per 1,000 people last year, with total births declining to 7.9 million—a decrease of 1.6 million and the sharpest fall since 2020. This decline contributed to an overall population drop of 3.4 million, marking the fourth consecutive annual decrease.
The numbers pose a challenge to Beijing’s efforts to promote a “fertility-friendly” society under President Xi Jinping, despite measures such as cash incentives, extended parental leave, and other policies aimed at encouraging families to have children.
China also reported its lowest number of marriages since 1980, with only 6.1 million couples marrying in 2024—a 20.5% decline from 2023—while divorce rates rose by 1.1%.
Demographic pressures are being compounded by a shrinking number of women of childbearing age and a trend among younger generations to delay marriage and parenthood due to social and economic factors.
Although the government has introduced policies to address falling marriage and birth rates, they have yet to produce significant results. China’s total population stood at 1.4 billion in 2024, marking the third straight year of decline since 2021.
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