Analyzing the Factors Behind China’s Population Decrease for Three Years Running
China’s population has declined for the third consecutive year, decreasing by 1.39 million to a total of 1.408 billion in 2024.
Despite a slight increase in births, with 9.54 million newborns, the number of deaths reached 10.93 million, resulting in a net population loss.
This ongoing decline is attributed to several factors, including the long-term effects of the one-child policy (implemented from 1980 to 2015), rapid urbanization, high child-rearing costs, economic pressures, and gender discrimination.
The demographic shift poses significant challenges for China’s economy, such as a shrinking workforce and increased strain on resources for elderly care.
In response, Chinese authorities have introduced measures to encourage marriages and births, including integrating marriage education into university curricula.
However, experts suggest that reversing the declining birth rate may be difficult due to entrenched societal and economic factors.
Projections indicate that China’s population could decrease by 51 million over the next decade, with the United Nations estimating a reduction of 109 million by 2050.
This trend underscores the urgency for policymakers to address the implications of an aging and shrinking population.