China Plans to Boost Birth Rate with New Initiatives
The head of China’s National Health Commission (NHC) revealed on Monday during a press conference that the Communist Party is set to make significant investments in programs aimed at increasing the birth rate. These initiatives will particularly focus on improving access to pediatric care and child care for working families.
This ambitious effort is part of the Communist Party’s “15th Five-Year Plan,” which highlights the importance of encouraging citizens to marry and have larger families. Over the last decade, China has seen a sharp decline in its birth rate, a trend that has persisted despite the government’s elimination of the one-child policy in 2015 and the allowance for families to have up to three children without facing forced abortions or sterilization.
The situation is concerning, as many Chinese people are choosing not to marry or start families. Official government figures indicated that the birth rate reached a historic low in 2025, and, notably, China lost its title as the world’s most populous nation to India earlier this year. Challenges such as a significant gender imbalance—approximately 33 million more men than women—complicate matters, a legacy of past policies where female infants were more likely to be aborted in favor of male children.
In January, Chinese statistical authorities reported that the population stood at 1.404 billion at the end of 2025, a drop of three million from the previous year. The birth rate saw a 17 percent decline, resulting in fewer than 8 million births in that year. Some experts suggested that the Year of the Snake, which many consider unlucky for childbirth, contributed to this decline.
Despite these troubling statistics, NHC chief Lei Haichao attempted to frame a more optimistic view of China’s demographic future during his comments on Monday, made at an event held by the State Council Information Office. He argued that many nations, particularly those with rapid development, are experiencing similar declines in birth rates.
“Compared to other developed and developing nations, the number of countries facing such low birth rates is still quite limited. Thus, China should still have a relatively abundant labor force in the future,” Lei mentioned.
With the population remaining high and a significant number of college students, Lei expressed economic optimism, which is often believed to influence fertility rates, as prospective parents envision a brighter future for their children.
He stated, “With a population of around 1.405 billion, China is projected to remain one of the world’s most populous countries for an extended period. Additionally, with more than 10 million students enrolling in higher education each year, there’s a steady stream of talent to fuel economic growth.”
Lei’s comments mark a shift in tone compared to the general alarm expressed by officials in recent years. Back in 2022, a demographic expert warned that low fertility would be a consistent issue for a long time and that a population decline was unavoidable.
During the press conference, Lei also announced that new measures would be introduced to help encourage childbirth and support parents. These measures primarily revolve around enhancing child care services.
“Specifically, Lei mentioned supporting communities and employers in setting up child care facilities, making them more accessible and affordable for residents,” according to reports. “Increasing enrollment rates for child care can significantly reduce family expenses related to childbirth, raising children, and education.”
Furthermore, there will be a significant expansion of pediatric health care across the country, especially in existing health centers.
“By year’s end, over 95 percent of township health centers and community service centers are expected to provide pediatric services,” Lei added, noting that 3,100 pediatricians have already been assigned to primary health care institutions.
As the demand for child care and medical services for children has dwindled due to fewer births, securing these services has become increasingly challenging in China. This drop in demand has also impacted early childhood education. For instance, reports indicated owners of kindergartens and early childhood education centers—essentially private but state-controlled—started shifting their businesses toward nursing homes amid a sharp decline in enrollment, with nearly 5.35 million fewer kindergarteners in 2023 compared to the previous year.
The government’s plans to support parents with child care reflect a less invasive option to address the declining birth rate. In 2024, there were reports of a program where members of the Communist Party would contact women about their reproductive health, creating quite a stir on social media as many felt pressured by these inquiries about their menstrual cycles.
An anonymous Party member remarked on this issue, stating that “some believe that marriage and childbirth are entirely personal matters. This perspective is misguided and overly simplistic,” according to a piece published in a major news outlet.
