China's population falls again as birthrate drops 17% to record low

M

Middl

China's population has hit a record low, marking its fourth consecutive year of decline as the birthrate plummets to 17% below last year's levels. The country registered just 7.92 million births in 2025 – down from 9.54 million in 2024 – and is now facing an unprecedented demographic crisis.

With a population of over 1.4 billion, China has seen its death rate rise to 8.04 for every 1,000 members, the highest on record since 1968. The country's aging population is expected to reach 400 million by 2035 – roughly equivalent to the combined populations of the US and Italy.

China's government has introduced several policies aimed at boosting birthrates, including a nationwide childcare subsidy programme and expanded national healthcare insurance for childbirth-related expenses. However, young people are still deterred from having children due to high costs and economic uncertainty.

The average cost of raising a child in China until they're 18 is a staggering 538,000 yuan – more than six times the country's GDP per capita. This has led many to question why anyone would want to have kids at all.

Decades of a one-child policy have left the current generation with a preference for single-child households and a shrinking pool of people of child-bearing age. The government is facing mounting pressure to address this crisis, with some policymakers calling for provincial leaders to be judged on their birthrates alongside GDP performance.

China's fertility rate stands at just 1.0 births per woman – the lowest in the world – far below the replacement rate of 2.1. The country's pool of women of reproductive age is forecast to shrink by over two-thirds to fewer than 100 million by the end of the century, making it one of the most pressing demographic challenges facing the nation.

Despite efforts to promote positive views on marriage and childbearing, China's birthrate continues to decline, raising concerns about the country's long-term economic stability. As policymakers struggle to find solutions, they must confront the daunting reality that their population is rapidly aging – a challenge unlike any other in history.
 
I'm shocked 😱, like what's going on with this population decline? 7.92 million births is crazy low! I mean, I know it's been a one-child policy for decades and all, but come on 🤯. The cost of raising a kid in China is insane - 538,000 yuan?! That's ridiculous 💸. What's the government gonna do to change this? They've tried subsidies and healthcare insurance, but young people are still hesitant to have kids due to economic uncertainty 🤑. We need some drastic measures here... maybe like, really low-interest loans for new parents or something? 🤔 I mean, a 1.0 fertility rate is just not sustainable in the long run. The government's gotta step up and find a solution ASAP! 💪
 
"Life begins when you realize you don't have all the answers." 🤔

I think China's demographic crisis is a ticking time bomb for its economy and social stability. The high cost of raising a child, combined with economic uncertainty, is deterring young people from having kids. It's like they're thinking, "Is it worth it?" Meanwhile, the government's efforts to boost birthrates are falling flat. It's time for policymakers to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions that address these underlying issues.

But what really worries me is that this crisis might be irreversible. A shrinking pool of people of child-bearing age could have catastrophic consequences for China's future. I mean, how can you build a sustainable economy when there aren't enough young people to carry on the workforce?

It's time for China to take drastic action and invest in its youth. Provide them with opportunities, support their families, and help them make informed choices about starting a family. The fate of China's future is hanging in the balance, and it's up to policymakers to act wisely 🤞
 
this is gonna be bad... china's population just hit record low and it's not looking good for them... birthrate has been plummeting for 4 years now 🚨. with only 7.92 million births last year, that's like 17% fewer than the previous year. and get this, the average cost of raising a kid in china until they're 18 is over 538k yuan - more than 6 times their GDP per capita 💸. no wonder young people are deterred from having kids. it's not just economic uncertainty, but also decades of a one-child policy that's left them with a preference for single-child households. this demographic crisis is gonna have major implications for china's economy and long-term stability... sigh 😔
 
the whole thing just feels like china's economy is going to be severely impacted by this demographic crisis 🤯 and it's not like anyone can blame them for wanting kids at all with these huge costs... 538,000 yuan is just insane 💸 and the government's policies are like throwing money out the window with no guarantee of success 🌪️ maybe they need to rethink their approach and focus on making families more financially stable instead of trying to trick people into having kids? 🤔
 
I'm not surprised to see China's birthrate hit an all-time low 😕. I mean, we've known for years that the one-child policy was gonna have some major consequences down the line. But 17% below last year's levels? That's crazy talk 🤯! The numbers are just staggering - a record-low death rate and a shrinking population to boot.

I'm all for policies like childcare subsidies and expanded healthcare insurance, but come on... 538,000 yuan per kid? Are people really gonna be deterred by that kind of cost 💸? It's like the government is saying, 'Hey, we know you're not rich, so don't bother having kids.' 🤷‍♀️

It's funny, though - I've been following this story for a while now, and every time China introduces a new policy to boost birthrates, it seems to fall flat. Maybe it's just a case of too little, too late ⏰? Either way, the government needs to figure out how to get young people excited about having kids again - and fast! 🚨
 
I'm low-key worried about this 😕. I mean, China's population has been declining for years and now they're facing an actual demographic crisis? 🤯 It's crazy to think that the country with the most people on the planet is struggling to keep its numbers up. The fact that young people are deterred from having kids due to financial uncertainty and all that is just wild 🤑. And 538,000 yuan? That's like, a small country's GDP right there 💸. I guess it makes sense why they're struggling to boost birthrates, but still... what's the solution here? 🤔
 
omg can you even imagine china with a pop of 7.92 million births 🤯?! it's like the country's trying to make a comeback from being super old 😂. i mean, the gov's already throwing money at this problem with subsidies and whatnot, but honestly, when you're lookin' at a cost of raisin' a kid till they're 18 bein' over 538k yuan 💸... it's like why even bother? 🤷‍♀️ i guess we'll just have to wait and see if china can turn this around 👀
 
I'm getting worried about China's future. They're trying all sorts of things to get people to have kids, but it sounds like a lot of young folks are just not having it 🤔. I mean, who can blame them with the cost of raising a kid being six times the GDP? That's crazy talk 💸! And now they're facing this massive demographic crisis...it's like, what's next? 😬 Do you think they'll be able to get their birthrate up or are they in for a rough ride? 🤞
 
🤔 china's birthrate crisis 🚨 2025's 7.92 million births is a tiny number considering its massive population, what if most of them aren't even allowed to have kids due to all these rules & restrictions? and that child-raising cost is insane! 😩 how can anyone afford it? the government needs to rethink its policies or they'll be facing a serious crisis in no time 👀
 
I'm both surprised and not surprised by this news 🤯. I mean, who wouldn't want kids if you had to shell out almost 600k yuan just for them? 😳 It's like the government is saying 'good luck with that'. And don't even get me started on how ridiculous it is to judge provincial leaders based on birthrates. Like, what about other things they can actually control?

I do think it's a bit harsh to say that young people are deterred from having kids due to economic uncertainty, though. I mean, have you seen the cost of living in China? It's insane. But still, it's like the government is just throwing money at the problem and expecting everything to magically work out.

I'm also a bit concerned about what this means for China's long-term stability. Like, if they're going to lose over 60% of their women of childbearing age by the end of the century... that's a huge demographic challenge. I hope the government can come up with some actual solutions and not just keep throwing money around. 💸
 
"Man has never been more alone; his loneliness is the most intimate and terrible of all." We're witnessing this 'intimacy' now. China's demographic crisis feels like an unseen force suffocating its future. As the birthrate plummets, it's as if we're watching a ticking clock counting down to an uncertain tomorrow.
 
OMG u guys i cant even imagine livin in china rn with 1.4 billion people and its like almost half of them are dyin lol the cost of raisin a kid there is insane 538k yuan! its like they wanna give u kids but u gotta break the bank lol how can ppl afford that?? im all for child subsidies but not when it feels like u r bein forced to have kids just cuz thats what ur country wants u to do rn. china needs to figure out a way 2 make parenting less expensive or ppl will keep having fewer kids i feel bad 4 the chinese gov tho theyre tryna boost birthrates with all these initiatives but its not workin lol
 
🤔 This demographic crisis in China is getting out of hand... I mean, 538,000 yuan for raising a child until age 18? That's just insane! 🤑 It's no wonder young people are hesitant to have kids. The cost of living is skyrocketing and the economic uncertainty is real. They're not going to jump into parenthood without thinking twice.

I think the government's efforts to boost birthrates are good, but they need to think outside the box. Like, what if they implemented some kind of universal childcare system or made parenting benefits more accessible? The key here is to make having kids a viable option again.

It's also interesting that policymakers are starting to tie GDP performance with birthrate – it's like they're saying, "Hey, we need you to have kids so our economy can thrive." But what about the individual families who want to plan their own future? It feels like the government is dictating when and if people should become parents.

The numbers don't lie though... 1.0 births per woman? That's a disaster waiting to happen. China needs to take this crisis seriously and find solutions ASAP or risk facing some serious economic consequences down the line.
 
omg this is crazy! china's population is literally shrinking and it's like what are they gonna do? 🤯 the birthrate is so low it's almost scary... 1 child per woman?! that's like, super uncommon anywhere else in the world... 🌎 anyway i feel bad for chinese families who have to deal with this pressure to have kids and it's just too expensive 🤑 like, no wonder people are hesitant about having more than one kid... what a predicament! 😬
 
I'm literally shocked by this numbers 💥! 538,000 yuan for raising a child?! That's insane 🤯! I can see why young people are hesitant to have kids right now. The financial burden is just too much 😓. And it's not just the cost, but also the economic uncertainty 🌪️. China needs to find a way to make having kids more appealing again 💕. They need to rethink their policies and offer better support for families 👩‍👧‍👦.

I'm also worried about the future of this country 🤔. If they can't get their birthrates up, how will they pay off their debts or fund their pension systems? It's a big deal 💸. I hope the government takes this seriously and comes up with some real solutions 🔄. This is one crisis that requires swift action ⏱️!
 
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