The Chinese population HE contracted in 2023, marking a decrease for the second consecutive year according to official data. The cost of educationhe distancing of young people towards marriagethe educational integration and labor of women, among other factors, caused the birth rate in China to decline.
From April 2023, China already It is no longer the most populated country in the worldtitle he now holds India. After more than six decades of strong growth in the population rate, the Asian giant faces a demographic crisis.
The demographic crisis in China
In 2022, China’s population shrank by first time since 1960, which marked the end of a streak of 62 consecutive years with population growth. Now, the National Statistics Office announced that the national population at the end of 2023 was “1,409.67 millionmarking a reduction of 2.08 million about the end of 2022″.
The calculations take into account only those individuals of Chinese nationality who live on the mainland, excluding foreigners and inhabitants of semi-autonomous territories such as Hong Kong. The birth rate in 2023 it was “6.39 per thousand inhabitants“, according to official data.
In 2016, the Asian giant ended its strict birth policy – imposed in the 1980s – that allowed families to have only a sonfor fear of overpopulation. As of 2021, the limit has been modified and couples can have up to three children.
The data show that the campaigns with subsidies and pro-fertility propaganda They did not have the expected success. In a country that made its extensive workforce an engine of economic momentum, the demographic crisis is beginning to emerge as a new problem.
The reasons for population contraction in China
As in many countries, one of the main reasons for the decrease in the number of children per couple is the high economic cost of educate a child. Furthermore, among the new generations of young people, distrust towards the institution of marriagea mandatory step in China before procreating.
On the other hand, the social promotion and the labor inclusion They also play a key role in explaining this phenomenon. The increasing number of women pursuing higher education delayed the age of first pregnancy.
According to the independent demographer, He Yafu“the trend of population decline in China is basically impossible to reverse“. Furthermore, the researcher stated that “even if fertility is encouraged, it is impossible for the fertility rate to increase to the rate of generational replacement“.
To stop this decline, this expert proposes that the government provide more family aid, solutions for childcare or progress in children’s access to daycare.
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This demographic crisis represents a series of difficulties for China. First of all, on the economic level means a reduction of labor available, which will increase over the years.
Outside of the economic plane, this phenomenon also has an impact on the social sphere. Chinese tradition requires new generations to take care of their elderly relatives to a higher degree than is required in Western societies.
In many cases, couples are now composed of two adults who are only childrenwho would have the responsibility of taking care of their four elderly parents, without help from their children.
The problems of this demographic crisis and the aging of the population are multiple. To compensate for this burden, the authorities presented this week a billion dollar plan to cover the senior services needs.
Source: Ambito
