The Chinese government reported a decline in population, pointing to further demographic challenges related to an aging population and an acute shortage of working-age people.
China’s population stood at 1.408 billion at the end of 2024. This is 1.39 million fewer than the year before.
The statistics announced by Beijing reflect the global trend of falling birth rates, especially in East Asia. Among the reasons, experts cite the rising cost of living, which is forcing the younger generation to postpone or rule out marriage and having children.
After the end of the Cultural Revolution and the death of leader Mao Zedong in 1976, a government, worried about population growth, initiated the so-called “one child policy.” As a result, women could face forced late-term abortions and birth control procedures, as well as fines and revocation of the child’s citizenship.
Tough population control measures have led to an unequal sex ratio in China. About one million boys are born for every 100 girls, increasing the likelihood of social instability among China’s unmarried men. The latest report showed 104.34 men for every 100 women, but independent groups estimated the imbalance to be much higher.
While spending on military and flashy infrastructure projects continues to rise, China’s social security system is faltering, as more Chinese refuse to contribute to an underfunded pension system.
The proportion of people aged 60 and over is projected to exceed 30 per cent by 2035, sparking debate about changing the official retirement age, one of the lowest in the world. Meanwhile, some empty schools and kindergartens are being converted into elderly care facilities due to insufficient number of students.
Moreover, the urbanisation trend in China continues to grow as another 10 million people have moved to cities. The urbanisation rate stood at 67 per cent, up almost a percentage point from the previous year.
Without proper measures and incentives, China, as the world’s second largest economy, risks an acute demographic collapse before it shows the expected economic growth. However, government-imposed incentives, such as cash payments for having up to three children and financial assistance with housing costs, produce only temporary effects.
