1 in 1 Chinese people go for a walk in Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2024 Photo: Portal/Tingshu Wang Chinese people go for a walk in Heilongjiang province on January 5, 2024 Photo: Portal/Tingshu Wang
According to data released by the Chinese government on Wednesday (17), China's population has declined for the second year in a row. In 2023, China's population fell by 2.75 million.
China currently has 1.4 billion inhabitants. The reasons for the population decline include the decline in the birth rate and the wave of deaths caused by Covid19.
As for the birth rate, it has been falling for decades since it was decided between 1980 and 2015 that couples could only have one child. In 2016 the law began allowing up to two children and in 2021 three children.
Nevertheless, the number of births in China continues to fall. In addition to youth unemployment and the crisis in the real estate sector, this also reflects the country's strong urbanization.
On the other hand, China recorded a sharp increase in Covid19 cases in early 2023 after three years of easing strict quarantine measures. As a result, the country faced a wave of deaths caused by the disease.
Between 2022 and 2023, the death rate increased from 7.37 to 7.87 per 1,000 inhabitants. This is the highest rate since 1974, during China's Cultural Revolution.
China's new population data has heightened concerns about the growth prospects of the world's secondlargest economy.
The country is experiencing a scenario in which the number of workers and consumers is declining, while government costs for elderly care and pensions are rising.
According to United Nations (UN) estimates, China's population is expected to decline by up to 109 million by 2050. Last year, the country was overtaken by India and ceased to be the world's most populous country.