China is not able to produce children, population is declining drastically, concern increases

News Desk: The birth rate in China continues to fall and is set to reach a record low of 5.63 per 1,000 people in 2025. This figure is even lower than 6.39 in 2023. China’s population is declining for the fourth consecutive year, deepening the country’s demographic challenge. Experts believe that this situation could affect the world’s second largest economy in the coming decades.

Due to decline in birth rate

The main reason for the decline in the birth rate in China has been the strict birth control policies implemented for decades. Although the “one-child policy” was abolished in 2016, young couples are still avoiding having a child. The reasons behind this are changing lifestyle ideas, increasing education, urbanization and high cost of raising children.

A total of 7.92 million babies were born in China in 2025, while 11.31 million deaths were recorded, leading to a population decline of 3.39 million. China’s total population now stands at 1.4 billion, still the second largest in the world after India.

aging society

The number of elderly people in the country is increasing rapidly. People over the age of 60 are expected to reach 323 million in 2025, accounting for 23% of the population. The United Nations estimates that half of China’s population could be over 60 by 2100. This will not only put pressure on the economy, but may also impact China’s military and global ambitions.

Slowdown in economic growth

Although there is a population crisis, China’s economy will grow 5% in 2025, which is in line with the government’s annual target. A rebound in exports and domestic investment offset weak consumption and trade tensions with the US. However, the OECD and IMF estimate that economic growth may remain limited to 4.4% and 4.3–4.5% in 2026 and 2027, respectively.

China will unveil its next five-year plan in March, which will set out development strategy and policy priorities. Experts believe that in view of the population and aging population, China will have to make major reforms in the areas of economy and social security. This demographic and economic cycle in China is not only challenging for the country’s stability, but can also have far-reaching effects on the global economy and strategic balance.