China’s Population Shrinks As Births Fall To Just 7.9 Million In A Year

Beijing: China, once the world's most populous country, now seems to be growing in the opposite direction on the population front. According to the latest global reports, the country's birth rate has reached its lowest level historically. Government figures show that only 79.2 lakh children were born in China last year, whereas the year before that the number was 95.4 lakh. That means a huge decline of about 17 percent was recorded in just one year. This is considered to be the weakest birth rate since 1949.

What do the statistics say?

Not only the birth rate but also the total population of China is continuously decreasing. According to the report, the population of the country has decreased by about 33.9 lakhs, and it has come down to about 1.4049 billion. During this period, the number of deaths increased to 1.13 crore. Its direct effect is that the society is aging rapidly and the number of youth of working age is continuously decreasing.

Why are youth shying away from marriage?

Experts believe that the current situation did not arise suddenly. The 'one child policy,' which was in force for decades, disturbed the population balance. The situation now is that inflation, skyrocketing housing costs, job uncertainty, and long working hours are preventing youth from getting married and raising a family. At present, the subsidies being given by the government and the schemes to encourage families do not seem to be having any impact on the ground.

Why did the alarm sound for the economy?

This change in population is not only a social but also an economic challenge for China. Decreasing youth population means less workforce, slower economic growth, and increasing burden on pension and healthcare systems. This pressure is expected to intensify further in the coming years.

Will the government be able to handle the situation?

The Chinese government is changing policies to increase the birth rate, but experts say the results will not be visible immediately. It is a big challenge to restore the confidence of the youth, reduce the cost of living, and provide stable employment. At present, China is going through a difficult phase on the population front, the effects of which can be felt for a long time.