China’s population falls for a third straight year, posing challenges for its government and economy
2 months, 1 week ago

China’s population falls for a third straight year, posing challenges for its government and economy

Associated Press  

TAIPEI, Taiwan — China’s population fell last year for the third straight year, its government said Friday, pointing to further demographic challenges for the world’s second most populous nation, which is now facing both an aging population and an emerging shortage of working age people. After the end of the Cultural Revolution and leader Mao Zedong’s death, Communist bureaucrats began to worry the country’s population was outstripping its ability to feed itself and began implementing a draconian “one child policy.” Though it was never law, women had to apply for permission to have a child and violators could face forced late-term abortions and birth control procedures, massive fines and the prospect of their child being deprived an identification number, effectively making them non-citizens. Rural China, where the preference for male offspring was especially strong and two children were still ostensibly allowed, became the focus of government efforts, with women forced to present evidence they were menstruating and buildings emblazoned with slogans such as “have fewer children, have better children.” The government sought to stamp out selective abortion of female children, but with abortions legal and readily available, those operating illicit sonogram machines enjoyed a thriving business. Such developments are giving some credence to the aphorism that China, now the world’s second largest economy but facing major headwinds, will “grow old before it grows rich.” Government inducements including cash payouts for having up to three children and financial help with housing costs have had only temporary effects.

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History of this topic

Demographic lessons to boost development
1 week, 4 days ago

Demographic lessons to boost development

China Daily  

SHI YU/CHINA DAILY China faces significant challenges in sustaining its economic growth, prominent among which is the demographic issue, particularly a declining population and population aging. Developing smart eldercare solutions, such as robotic assistants, AI-driven healthcare monitoring systems and telemedicine platforms, could improve the quality of elderly people's lives as well as create new economic growth channels. To improve eldercare, …

每日一词 | 人均预期寿命 average life expectancy
2 weeks, 1 day ago

每日一词 | 人均预期寿命 average life expectancy

China Daily  

国家卫生健康委主任雷海潮2025年3月9日在十四届全国人大三次会议民生主题记者会上说，2024年中国人均预期寿命达到79岁，比2023年提升0.4岁。 China's average life expectancy reached 79 years in 2024, which has increased by 0.4 years from 2023, said Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission, at the press conference on people's livelihood held during the third session of the 14th National People's Congress on March 9, 2025. We have worked continuously to ensure people's access to childcare, education, …

每日一词 | 人均预期寿命 average life expectancy
2 weeks, 1 day ago

每日一词 | 人均预期寿命 average life expectancy

China Daily  

国家卫生健康委主任雷海潮2025年3月9日在十四届全国人大三次会议民生主题记者会上说，2024年中国人均预期寿命达到79岁，比2023年提升0.4岁。 China's average life expectancy reached 79 years in 2024, which has increased by 0.4 years from 2023, said Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission, at the press conference on people's livelihood held during the third session of the 14th National People's Congress on March 9, 2025. We have worked continuously to ensure people's access to childcare, education, …

每日一词 | 人均预期寿命 average life expectancy
2 weeks, 1 day ago

每日一词 | 人均预期寿命 average life expectancy

China Daily  

国家卫生健康委主任雷海潮2025年3月9日在十四届全国人大三次会议民生主题记者会上说，2024年中国人均预期寿命达到79岁，比2023年提升0.4岁。 China's average life expectancy reached 79 years in 2024, which has increased by 0.4 years from 2023, said Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission, at the press conference on people's livelihood held during the third session of the 14th National People's Congress on March 9, 2025. We have worked continuously to ensure people's access to childcare, education, …

China's life expectancy rose to 79 years in 2024: Health official
2 weeks, 5 days ago

China's life expectancy rose to 79 years in 2024: Health official

India Today  

China's average life expectancy has reached 79 years in 2024 as several strategic measures have come into play in the populous country, a health official said at a press conference on people's livelihood in Beijing on Sunday. The life expectancy in 2024 is 1.7 years higher than in 2019, said Lei Haichao, director of the National Health Commission, on the …

Average life expectancy in China reaches 79 years in 2024: Health Minister
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Average life expectancy in China reaches 79 years in 2024: Health Minister

China Daily  

China's average life expectancy rate for 2024 had reached 79 years, up by 0.4 years from 2023, Health Minister Lei Haichao said on Sunday. Lei, minister of the National Health Commission, said that China now ranks the fourth among 53 middle-and-high-income countries and the 10th among the Group of 20 countries in terms of overall life expectancy. "Notably, the gap …

Japan’s birth rate falls to lowest in 125 years. Will the country soon go extinct?
3 weeks, 6 days ago

Japan’s birth rate falls to lowest in 125 years. Will the country soon go extinct?

Firstpost  

The number of newborns in Japan in 2024 dropped to 7,20,988, a five per cent from the previous year. One expert notes that if this trend isn’t reversed soon enough, Japan will be extinct in 695 years from now — in January 2720 The number of children born in Japan in 2024 fell from a year earlier to 7,20,988, marking …

Here's why China’s birth figures are set to resume their downward spiral in 2025 after brief hiatus last year
2 months ago

Here's why China’s birth figures are set to resume their downward spiral in 2025 after brief hiatus last year

Firstpost  

Without significant changes, China’s population decline could accelerate, undermining economic growth and social stability Birth rate in China is expected to fall in 2025. Factors behind the decline Experts cite a variety of reasons for the continued decline in births: Fewer women of childbearing age: China’s population of women aged 20 to 35 has steadily declined over the past decade, …

China's birth rate shows signs of recovery amid population decline, urging further support for fertility, experts say
2 months ago

China's birth rate shows signs of recovery amid population decline, urging further support for fertility, experts say

China Daily  

A newborn baby, whose Chinese zodiac sign is dragon, is seen with the mother and sister at a hospital in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province, Feb 10, 2024. China's total population dropped for a third consecutive year in 2024, but a slight increase in the number of newborns demonstrates the outcomes of a national push to build a birth-friendly society …

China sees population drop in 2024, despite increase in births
2 months, 1 week ago

China sees population drop in 2024, despite increase in births

Live Mint  

China’s population shrank for the third straight year in 2024, even though births rose slightly, underscoring a persistent long-term risk for the economy. The total number of people in China fell by over 1.39 million to 1.408 billion last year, according to data released by the National Statistics Bureau on Friday. “But I estimate the number of newborns will drop …

China sees a fresh decline in population, despite a rise in births
2 months, 1 week ago

China sees a fresh decline in population, despite a rise in births

Live Mint  

China’s population continued to decline last year—though births edged up for the first time in eight years—falling for a third straight year as deaths outpaced births. China had seen birth numbers plummet since 2017, the year after it ended the one-child policy, despite Beijing’s encouragement of couples to have three children. Meanwhile, the number of deaths dropped to 10.93 million …

China population falls for third straight year, sparking concerns over future workforce
2 months, 1 week ago

China population falls for third straight year, sparking concerns over future workforce

Hindustan Times  

China's population fell last year for the third straight year, its government said Friday, pointing to further demographic challenges for the world's second most populous nation, which is now facing both an ageing population and an emerging shortage of working age people. China has long been among the world's most populous nations, enduring invasions, floods and other natural disasters to …

China says population fell for third year in a row in 2024
2 months, 1 week ago

China says population fell for third year in a row in 2024

Deccan Chronicle  

Beijing: China said Friday its population fell for the third year running in 2024, extending a downward streak after more than six decades of growth as the country faces a rapidly ageing population and persistently low birth rates. And data released Friday showed that the population aged 60 and over reached 310.31 million -- just a few percentage points short …

More countries, including China, are grappling with shrinking and aging populations
2 months, 1 week ago

More countries, including China, are grappling with shrinking and aging populations

Associated Press  

BEIJING — A growing number of countries are confronting the dual challenges of population decline and aging, as younger generations opt to have fewer children and advances in healthcare extend life expectancy. Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print The Japanese government’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, called the demographic situation critical last year, …

China's population shrinks for 3rd straight year, posing threat to economy
Trending News
2 months, 1 week ago

China's population shrinks for 3rd straight year, posing threat to economy

India Today  

China’s population fell last year for the third straight year, its government said Friday, pointing to further demographic challenges for the world’s second most populous nation, which is now facing both an ageing population and an emerging shortage of working age people. After the end of the Cultural Revolution and leader Mao Zedong’s death, Communist bureaucrats began to worry the …

China’s population falls for third year in a row as birthrate declines
2 months, 1 week ago

China’s population falls for third year in a row as birthrate declines

Al Jazeera  

China’s population continues to fall for third straight year due to declining birthrate and amid concerns for economy. China’s population fell for the third consecutive year in 2024, as a demographic crisis continues to loom over the East Asian superpower. China’s population has been steadily declining since the 1980s, but the year 2022 marked the first time deaths outpaced births …

Only one child under 14 by...: Expert's big warning on Japan's demographic trend
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Only one child under 14 by...: Expert's big warning on Japan's demographic trend

India Today  

Japan’s declining birthrate has reached critical levels, with a leading demographic expert now warning that, if the trend continues, the country could have only one child under the age of 14 by January 5, 2720 -- just 695 years from now. Professor Hiroshi Yoshida of Tohoku University has developed a real-time population clock to raise awareness about this issue, highlighting …

Shrinking, ageing population makes S. Korea 'super-aged society'
3 months ago

Shrinking, ageing population makes S. Korea 'super-aged society'

The Hindu  

South Korea has become a "super-aged society", with 20% of its population aged 65 or older, official data showed on Tuesday, a gloomy trend driven by an alarmingly low birth rate. Asia's fourth-largest economy recorded just 0.7 births per woman late last year--one of the lowest birth rates in the world and far below the replacement rate of 2.1 needed …

South Korea becomes ‘super-aged’ society, new data shows
3 months ago

South Korea becomes ‘super-aged’ society, new data shows

CNN  

Seoul, South Korea CNN — South Korea has become a “super-aged” society with one in five people aged 65 or older, official data showed Tuesday, underscoring the country’s deepening demographic crisis. The number of people aged 65 and older stands at 10.24 million, accounting for 20% of South Korea’s population of 51 million, according to new data released by the …

South Korea becomes ‘super-aged’ society, new data shows
3 months ago

South Korea becomes ‘super-aged’ society, new data shows

CNN  

Seoul, South Korea CNN — South Korea has become a “super-aged” society with one in five people aged 65 or older, official data showed Tuesday, underscoring the country’s deepening demographic crisis. The number of people aged 65 and older stands at 10.24 million, accounting for 20% of South Korea’s population of 51 million, according to new data released by the …

Report digs into Beijing's population
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Report digs into Beijing's population

China Daily  

Insights gleaned into capital's shifts, growth and characteristics of residents In its latest population report, Beijing has shared critical insights into the demographic landscape of China's capital, highlighting both challenges and opportunities as the city navigates its future. It identifies seven key characteristics of population development in Beijing, including stable resident population size, increased urbanization, a narrowing income gap between …

Report digs into Beijing's population
Trending News
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Report digs into Beijing's population

China Daily  

In its latest population report, Beijing has shared critical insights into the demographic landscape of China's capital, highlighting both challenges and opportunities as the city navigates its future. It identifies seven key characteristics of population development in Beijing, including stable resident population size, increased urbanization, a narrowing income gap between urban and rural residents, and a dual challenge of declining …

Xi's article on supporting Chinese modernization with high-quality population development to be published
4 months, 1 week ago

Xi's article on supporting Chinese modernization with high-quality population development to be published

China Daily  

BEIJING - An article by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on supporting Chinese modernization with high-quality population development will be published on Saturday. China's population has generally shifted from expansion to decline, the article reads, noting that the dominant trends in China's population development include a declining birth rate, population aging, and regional …

Xi's article on supporting Chinese modernization with high-quality population development to be published
4 months, 1 week ago

Xi's article on supporting Chinese modernization with high-quality population development to be published

China Daily  

BEIJING - An article by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on supporting Chinese modernization with high-quality population development will be published on Saturday. China's population has generally shifted from expansion to decline, the article reads, noting that the dominant trends in China's population development include a declining birth rate, population aging, and regional …

Natural population growth rate lagging, NBS says
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Natural population growth rate lagging, NBS says

China Daily  

Amid efforts to boost the nation's birth rate, the China Statistical Yearbook 2024 recently released by the National Bureau of Statistics said only eight provincial-level regions recorded a positive natural population growth rate last year. According to the yearbook, the top three regions in terms of natural population growth rates last year were the Xizang autonomous region, the Ningxia Hui …

China to create TV shows and films that promote ‘childbearing culture’
5 months ago

China to create TV shows and films that promote ‘childbearing culture’

The Telegraph  

Beijing enforced a “one-child” policy until 2015 that limited couples to just one offspring. However, the longstanding one-child policy left a deep impression on China’s culture that has been difficult to shake, and birth rates have remained depressed. China’s birth rate fell to a record low in 2023 and the population shrunk for the second year in a row. UN …

Raising Retirement Age in China: Balancing Economic and Social Concerns
5 months ago

Raising Retirement Age in China: Balancing Economic and Social Concerns

China Daily  

China's aging population and low birth rate problem require addressing through raising the retirement age. The government has decided to gradually raise the retirement age from 60 to 63 for men and 50-55 for women, starting in 2025. This measure is intended to ensure a healthy supply of labor, ease the pressure on pension funds, and promote long-term growth. However, …

Raising Retirement Age in China: A Balancing Act Between Economic and Social Concerns
Trending News
5 months ago

Raising Retirement Age in China: A Balancing Act Between Economic and Social Concerns

China Daily  

China's aging population and low birth rate problem require a multifaceted approach to address the declining working-age population. Two key solutions are to introduce robots and AI technology to cope with the declining working-age population due to the low birth rate, or raise the retirement age to ease the pressure on pension funds and enhance old-age security.

A necessary and pragmatic reform
5 months, 2 weeks ago

A necessary and pragmatic reform

China Daily  

MA XUEJING/CHINA DAILY With China entering the era of rapidly rising aging population, raising the retirement age has become a priority issue for the country. Raising the retirement age according to gender and role: Over a 15-year period, starting in 2025, the government will raise the retirement age of men from 60 to 63 years and women blue-collar workers and …

China sees rising urbanization rate over past 75 years
6 months ago

China sees rising urbanization rate over past 75 years

China Daily  

Residential buildings pictured in Changsha, Central China's Hunan province on May 9, 2021. BEIJING -- China's urbanization rate, which measures the ratio of permanent urban residents relative to the total population, rose by 55.52 percentage points from the end of 1949 to 66.16 percent by the end of 2023, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Monday. Over the …

China raises its retirement age to dull the impact of shrinking, aging economy
6 months, 1 week ago

China raises its retirement age to dull the impact of shrinking, aging economy

NPR  

China raises its retirement age to dull the impact of shrinking, aging economy China is to gradually raise the retirement age for its workforce next year. RUWITCH: To help people figure out when they'll be eligible, the government launched a retirement age calculator online. RUWITCH: Since people in China are living, on average, almost twice as long as in the …

95,000 Japanese aged over 100 years, nearly 84,000 women: Govt data
6 months, 1 week ago

95,000 Japanese aged over 100 years, nearly 84,000 women: Govt data

Firstpost  

As of September 1, Japan had 95,119 centenarians, up 2,980 year-on-year, with 83,958 of them women and 11,161 men, the health ministry said in a statement The country's overall population is 124 million, after declining by 595,000 in the previous, according to previous government data. AFP The number of people in Japan aged 100 or older has hit a record …

Japan’s elderly population hits record high
6 months, 1 week ago

Japan’s elderly population hits record high

The Hindu  

The number of people in Japan aged 65 or older hit a record high of 36.25 million this year, government data showed, as the country contended with one of the world’s fastest-ageing societies. The elderly now accounted for 29.3% of Japan’s total population, also a new high, according to data released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on …

China raises its retirement age to dull the impact of a shrinking, aging economy
6 months, 1 week ago

China raises its retirement age to dull the impact of a shrinking, aging economy

NPR  

China raises its retirement age to dull the impact of a shrinking, aging economy China is to "gradually raise" the retirement age for its workforce next year. RUWITCH: To help people figure out when they'll be eligible, the government launched a retirement age calculator online. RUWITCH: Since people in China are living on average almost twice as long as in …

China is raising its retirement age - to 63 years for men, 55 and 58 for women
6 months, 2 weeks ago

China is raising its retirement age - to 63 years for men, 55 and 58 for women

New Indian Express  

China said Friday it would gradually raise its statutory retirement age, as the country grapples with a looming demographic crisis and an ageing population. State news agency Xinhua said top officials in Beijing had decided that "the statutory retirement age for male workers will be gradually extended from the original 60 years to 63 years". For women workers the retirement …

China announces new retirement ages, plans to foster 'new culture of marriage and child-bearing'
6 months, 2 weeks ago

China announces new retirement ages, plans to foster 'new culture of marriage and child-bearing'

ABC  

China's government has confirmed it will soon begin raising the country's retirement age, which is currently among the youngest in the world's major economies. Beijing takes first steps to raise China's retirement age Photo shows elderly people dance outside In response to an aging population and growing pressure on pensions, the Chinese Communist Party plans to raise the statutory retirement …

China’s policymakers discuss delaying retirement age amid shrinking working population
6 months, 2 weeks ago

China’s policymakers discuss delaying retirement age amid shrinking working population

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Chinese policymakers are reviewing plans …

China to raise retirement age to avert pensions crisis
6 months, 3 weeks ago

China to raise retirement age to avert pensions crisis

ABC  

China is set to raise its statutory retirement age, encouraging people to work longer as the country seeks to relieve growing pressure on its pension system. "The retirement age in Canada is 65 and the average life expectancy is over 80 years old," said user Houdawang on the Red social media platform. "In urban China, you have people who want …

Population decline won't hold China back
7 months ago

Population decline won't hold China back

China Daily  

CAI MENG/CHINA DAILY In recent years, a narrative of demographic doom has descended over China. China's shrinking total population and rising graying demographic pose numerous policy challenges that need to be addressed on an urgent basis, as policymakers grapple with issues ranging from falling fertility rates to decisions by many young couples to forgo the skyrocketing expense of raising children, …

Explainer: China to improve systems for supporting high-quality population development
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Explainer: China to improve systems for supporting high-quality population development

China Daily  

LI MIN/CHINA DAILY BEIJING -- China is set to refine its population development strategy in response to an aging population and declining birth rate, as part of broader reform efforts aimed at ensuring and enhancing people's wellbeing during the course of development. China's population development faces challenges from a declining birth rate, an aging population, and regional population disparities. According …

Explainer: China to improve systems for supporting high-quality population development
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Explainer: China to improve systems for supporting high-quality population development

China Daily  

LI MIN/CHINA DAILY BEIJING -- China is set to refine its population development strategy in response to an aging population and declining birth rate, as part of broader reform efforts aimed at ensuring and enhancing people's wellbeing during the course of development. China's population development faces challenges from a declining birth rate, an aging population, and regional population disparities. According …

Japan's population declines for 15th consecutive year, birth rates hit a record low
8 months ago

Japan's population declines for 15th consecutive year, birth rates hit a record low

India TV News  

Tokyo: Japan's total population marked the 15th straight year of decline, according to government data released on Wednesday, dropping by more than half a million as the population ages and births remain low. The data also showed that the 11 per cent increase in foreign residents helped their population surpass 3 million for the first time. While foreign residents increased …

China to allow delayed retirement to combat population woes
8 months ago

China to allow delayed retirement to combat population woes

Hindustan Times  

HONG KONG, - China will gradually raise its statutory retirement age, now among the world's lowest, to allow people to work longer, as it struggles to relieve soaring pressure on pension budgets, with many provinces already facing deficits. China to allow delayed retirement to combat population woes The reform is urgent with life expectancy having risen in China to 78 …

India’s population to peak at 1.7bn in 2060s, decline afterwards; China and Japan’s population to reduce significantly
8 months, 2 weeks ago

India’s population to peak at 1.7bn in 2060s, decline afterwards; China and Japan’s population to reduce significantly

Live Mint  

India’s population will most likely peak at 1.7 billion in the early 2060s and is projected to decline after that by 12 per cent. However, according to the World Population Prospects 2024 report released on July 11, the population is expected to decline to 10.2 billion people by the end of this century. The population is currently estimated at 1.45 …

World population is projected to grow from 8.2 billion to a peak of 10.3 billion in 2080s, U.N. says
8 months, 2 weeks ago

World population is projected to grow from 8.2 billion to a peak of 10.3 billion in 2080s, U.N. says

LA Times  

People take smartphone photos of the crowd on a street near Tiananmen Square as visitors gather to watch a flag-raising ceremony on the National Day in Beijing on Oct. 1, 2023. The world’s population is expected to grow by more than 2 billion people in the next decades and peak in the 2080s at around 10.3 billion, a new report …

Population dynamics impact East Asia development
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Population dynamics impact East Asia development

China Daily  

Although the global population reached 8 billion in 2022, population growth continues to slow down. The population growth rate in East Asia dropped below 1 percent in 1993, while the fertility rate fell below the replacement level. The prolonged low fertility rate has led to negative population growth in China and a couple of other East Asian countries, with features …

World population is projected to grow from 8.2 billion to a peak of 10.3 billion in 2080s, UN says
8 months, 2 weeks ago

World population is projected to grow from 8.2 billion to a peak of 10.3 billion in 2080s, UN says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. According to the World Population Prospects 2024 report, the …

Population collapse: The gloomy scenario in South Korea, Japan and what is in store for India in the future
10 months ago

Population collapse: The gloomy scenario in South Korea, Japan and what is in store for India in the future

Op India  

In a recent televised interview, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the decline in the population of the ‘all-inclusive’ Hindu civilization should be a matter of concern for the world. Today the world should be concerned about how the Hindu population will increase.” India’s TFR drops below 2.1 for the first time, eyeing challenges currently staring at countries like Japan …

No quick fix for city's aging workforce
11 months ago

No quick fix for city's aging workforce

China Daily  

A comprehensive population policy is vital to address the negative impacts of dwindling labor availability and quality, on the city’s long-term economic sustainability, predicated on a high-tech transformation. Hong Kong’s fertility rate fell to 0.751 births per woman in 2023 — far below the natural population replenishment rate of 2.1 children per woman — and is among the world’s lowest. …

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