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China's Birth Rate Hits Historic Low

Published January 19, 2026, 07:18
China's Birth Rate Hits Historic Low

China's birth rate fell to a historic low last year, despite government efforts to reverse the demographic decline. 7.92 million births were recorded, representing 5.63 per 1,000 inhabitants, marking the fourth consecutive year of population decline. China is facing accelerating population aging, prompting authorities to encourage marriages and childbirth through financial incentives such as childcare subsidies and tax breaks. Despite the abolition of the one-child policy a decade ago, the birth rate continued to decline, with a slight increase in 2024 that was not enough to reverse the trend. Demographic models by the United Nations suggest that China's population could fall to 633 million by 2100. The decline in marriages, combined with the rising cost of education and the priority given to career advancement, contribute to discouraging young couples from having children. Simultaneously, there was an increase in deaths, with the mortality rate reaching 8.04 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2023.