China's National Bureau of Statistics reported on Friday that the country's population will decline for the third consecutive year in 2024, even as the number of births showed a slight but surprising increase for the first time in seven years.
According to the Chinese government, 9.54 million babies will be born in 2024, a slight increase from 9.02 million in 2023, but at least not a decrease. The birth rate was calculated at 6.77 per 1,000 people, slightly higher than the previous year's 6.39.
However, in 2024, 10.93 million people died, marking the third consecutive year of net population decline. of total population India has 1.408 billion people, 1.39 million fewer than China reported in 2023. exceeded By 2023, China will become the world's most populous country.
Demographic experts said they were little encouraged by the slight increase in births last year, largely due to delayed marriages caused by the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic, as well as people's preference for giving birth in the Year of the Dragon. He claimed that this was due to his enthusiasm for considered The most auspicious year in the zodiac for children.
A surge in marriages is almost always accompanied by a surge in births, as China's unmarried birth rate is low due to cultural traditions and a lack of childcare benefits for single women.
“Much of China's population decline is rooted in deep structural reasons. Without fundamental structural changes, from strengthening social safety nets to eliminating gender discrimination, the population decline trend cannot be reversed. '' said Yun Zhou, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Michigan. said Reuters on Friday.
One of the structural problems is the glaring lack of young women. thanks to china oppressive The “one child” population control policy implemented from 1979 until the end of 2015; preference The percentage of parents who try to make one child male is high, but a huge number of females simply were not born.
“The number of Chinese women of reproductive age, defined by the United Nations as ages 15 to 49, will fall by more than two-thirds to fewer than 100 million by the end of this century,” Reuters noted.
The shadow of the one-child era still looms large over China, which is also grappling with the same phenomenon of declining birth rates that affects most wealthy, industrialized populations around the world. Rising costs of living and the loss of career opportunities due to raising children are causing young people to postpone marriage and families until later in life, resulting in devastating population declines.
Another factor contributing to China's population decline is the remarkable rate of urbanization, with young people moving in large numbers from rural areas to big cities. Human fertility generally tends to be as follows: decline in an urban environment. China's urbanization rate reached 67% last year.
China, like other countries facing population decline, is trying to address the problem by expanding subsidies and benefits for child-rearing families, and some companies are participated Employees with young children receive additional bonuses. When that didn't work, Chinese authorities began trying the following: shame on women In some cases, they may go door to door and talk directly to children.
