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الوسم: population decline

  • China to Develop ‘Birth-Friendly Society’ and Enhance Social Security

    China to Develop ‘Birth-Friendly Society’ and Enhance Social Security

    China announced plans on Thursday to develop a “childbirth-friendly society” over the next five years, aiming to tackle issues related to employment, education, healthcare, health, and income, according to an official government report. Authorities intend to enhance population services and proactively address aging, including promoting full and high-quality employment, refining income distribution, and improving the social security system. They also plan to foster positive attitudes towards marriage and having children and provide increased housing support to families with children.

    In January, official data revealed that China’s population declined for the fourth consecutive year in 2025, with the birth rate hitting an all-time low. Experts have warned this trend could continue downward. Population planning remains a critical part of China’s economic development strategy, with estimates suggesting that this year the government will spend roughly 180 billion yuan ($25.8 billion) to encourage higher birth rates. Key investments include a nationwide child subsidy introduced last year and promises that women will face no out-of-pocket expenses during pregnancy in 2026, with all medical treatments, including IVF, fully covered under the country’s medical insurance.

    The government will maintain and expand childcare subsidy programs and pilot projects for subsidized childcare services, although specific details remain scarce. Services aimed at women in early pregnancy stages and reproductive health will also be improved, alongside efforts to prevent and treat birth defects. Policies regarding free preschool education and increasing the availability of senior secondary school places will be refined, with a mandate that education spending exceeds 4% of GDP.

    Developing the “silver economy” is another focus, as China’s population has been shrinking since 2022 and is aging rapidly. The new policies will promote high-quality growth for the senior demographic, particularly targeting those aged 60 and above, with expanded elderly care services, especially in rural areas. Measures will also include adjustments to pension schemes, wellness programs, and caregiving support. By 2035, the population of Chinese seniors over 60 is projected to reach 400 million—about the combined population of the U.S. and Italy—posing significant challenges for workforce participation and pension systems. The retirement age has already been raised, with men working until 63 (up from 60) and women until 58 (up from 55).

  • China’s Population Declines for Fourth Year Amid Fewer Births

    China’s Population Declines for Fourth Year Amid Fewer Births

    In 2025, China experienced its fourth consecutive year of population decline, with the birthrate hitting a historic low, according to official figures released on Monday. The population decreased by 3.39 million, totaling approximately 1.405 billion, with the decline accelerating compared to 2024. The number of births in 2025 fell to 7.92 million, a 17% drop from 9.54 million in the previous year. Meanwhile, deaths increased to 11.31 million from 10.93 million in 2024, as reported by China’s National Bureau of Statistics.

    The birth rate in the country decreased to 5.63 per 1,000 residents. Demographer Yi Fuxian from the University of Wisconsin-Madison remarked that the 2025 birth figures are comparable to those in 1738, when China’s population was only around 150 million. The death rate of 8.04 per 1,000 people marked the highest since 1968.

    Since 2022, China’s population has been shrinking and aging rapidly, complicating the government’s efforts to stimulate domestic consumption and control debt. Around 23% of the population is now over the age of 60. Projections indicate that by 2035, this age group will reach 400 million—nearly equivalent to the combined populations of the U.S. and Italy—leading to a significant decline in the workforce while pension demands grow. The government has already increased retirement ages, with men expected to work until age 63 instead of 60, and women until age 58 instead of 55.

    Marriage rates plummeted in 2024, dropping by 20%, the largest decline on record, with just over 6.1 million couples tying the knot compared to 7.68 million in 2023. Since marriage trends typically precede birth rates in China, these figures raise concerns about future fertility.

    In May 2025, authorities eased marriage restrictions by permitting couples to wed anywhere nationwide, regardless of their registered residence. This policy change is anticipated to temporarily boost the birth rate. During the third quarter of 2025, marriages increased by 22.5% year-over-year to 1.61 million, hinting at a potential reversal of nearly a decade of declining marriage numbers. Full data for 2025 will be published later this year.

    To counteract demographic challenges rooted in the legacy of the one-child policy, which was in effect from 1980 to 2015, the government is promoting more positive attitudes towards marriage and childbearing. Efforts include launching subsidies for families and guaranteeing that pregnant women will incur no out-of-pocket expenses in 2026, with all maternity-related medical costs, including IVF, fully covered by the national insurance system.

    Population shifts also play a significant role, with many moving from rural areas to cities, where raising children becomes more costly. Urbanization reached 68% in 2025, up from about 43% in 2005. Population planning has become a central facet of China’s economic strategy, with estimates suggesting the government may spend around 180 billion yuan (roughly $25.8 billion) in 2025 to encourage higher birth rates.

    Among the measures are a nationwide child subsidy policy introduced last year and a commitment that women will face no out-of-pocket expenses during pregnancy in 2026, including full coverage for assisted reproductive procedures under the country’s medical insurance. China’s fertility rate remains one of the lowest globally at approximately 1 birth per woman—the replacement level being 2.1—and other East Asian nations like Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore have similarly low fertility rates close to 1.1 births per woman.

    The demographic outlook is further strained by a shrinking reproductive-age female population, which the United Nations estimates will decrease by more than 67%, falling below 100 million by the century’s end.

  • Japan’s 2024 Births Dip Below 700,000 for the First Time

    Japan’s 2024 Births Dip Below 700,000 for the First Time

    Children resting at Hinagiku nursery in Moriyama, western Japan. — Reuters/File

    Last year, Japan experienced a historic decline in birth rates, with the total number of births dropping below 700,000 for the first time on record, as revealed by government statistics on Wednesday.

    A total of 686,061 babies were born in Japan in 2024, representing a decrease of 41,227 compared to 2023. This marks the lowest figure in the country’s recorded history since 1899.

    Currently, Japan ranks as the country with the second-oldest population globally, following the small nation of Monaco, according to the World Bank.

    Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has termed this demographic shift a “quiet emergency,” committing to implement family-friendly policies, such as more flexible work schedules, in hopes of reversing this trend.

    According to the health ministry’s latest data, Japan’s total fertility rate—indicating how many children a woman is projected to have over her lifetime—has also reached an unprecedented low of 1.15.

    The ministry reported that Japan recorded 1.6 million deaths in 2024, which is a rise of 1.9% from the previous year.

    Ishiba has urged for efforts to revitalize rural areas, where many aging communities are becoming increasingly isolated.

    Data from the internal affairs ministry indicates that in over 20,000 communities across Japan, most residents are aged 65 and older.

    As the country of 123 million faces intensified labor shortages due to its aging populace, strict immigration policies exacerbate the situation.

    In South Korea, the fertility rate for 2024 is even lower than Japan’s at 0.75, continuing to be among the lowest globally, though it reflects a slight increase from the previous year due to more marriages.