Birth rates throughout China have dropped dramatically already in recent years since statistics began in 1978, according to official figures released today, amid concerns about the future and the cost of education.
The birth rate in the world’s most populous country shrank to 7.52 births per 1,000 inhabitants in 2021, according to data from China’s National Bureau of Statistics. It was at the level of 8.52 births per 1,000 inhabitants in 2020.
The country of Asia is facing a demographic crisis, due to the rapid aging of the active population, the slowdown of the economy and the lower demographic growth for decades.
The index fell to its lowest level despite China easing its restrictive birth policy in recent years. It allowed after 2016 families to have a second child, then, from last year, and a third.
However, these decisions did not result in a significant increase in births. Couples were discouraged by the high cost of living, housing and, above all, their children’s education.
In 2021, exactly 10.62 million births were recorded, according to official data. The population growth rate plunged to 0.34 per 1,000 inhabitants, while it was at 1.45 in 2000.
“The demographic challenge is well known, but the rate of population aging is clearly faster than expected,” said Xiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management.
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