Population Shrinks by 2 Million: China, once known for its one-child policy, faced a population decline for the second consecutive year, with a reduction of 2 million people in 2023. This decline was attributed to a decrease in births and a significant rise in deaths following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
Sharp Increase in Deaths: The number of deaths surged by 690,000 to reach 11.1 million, more than double the previous year’s increase. Demographers had anticipated a spike in deaths due to the lingering impact of COVID-19 outbreaks that began in the preceding year and persisted through February of the following year.
China Falls to Second Place: China’s total population now stands at 1.4 billion, and it relinquished its status as the most populated country to India in 2023, according to United Nations estimates. The demographic shift poses economic and societal challenges as the nation grapples with an aging population, which could potentially impede economic growth and strain resources for an elderly population with a diminishing workforce.
Persistently Falling Birth Rate: The number of births in China declined for the seventh consecutive year, revealing an ongoing economic and societal challenge. The birth rate has steadily dropped, leading to a situation where approximately 9 million babies were born in 2023, marking a significant reduction from the 2016 total of 18 million.
Government Encourages Larger Families: Despite easing the one-child policy between 2014 and 2016, and allowing the option for a second and third child in 2021, China faces difficulties in encouraging larger families. Factors such as delayed marriages, the rising cost of education, and women choosing to have fewer children contribute to the ongoing demographic challenges. President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to guide young people’s views on marriage and parenthood, promote policies supporting parenthood, and address the aging population.
Changing Demographics: The working-age population, defined as individuals between 16 and 59 years old, continued to decline, now constituting 61% of the total population. Meanwhile, the proportion of individuals aged 60 and older increased to 21%, highlighting the growing challenges associated with an aging workforce. The official retirement age in China is 60 for men and either 50 or 55 for women.
SOURCE: Ref Image from News 18
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