China's population continues to decline for a third consecutive year in 2024. The announcement from the National Bureau of Statistics of China shows a decline of 1.39 million people, reaching 1.408 billion, indicating a population decline trend. The reasons for this are extremely complicated, with the growing difference between the number of births and deaths continuing to play a key role, quoted by News.bg.
Although the number of births increased by 9.54 million in 2024 compared to 9.02 million in 2023, the death rate of 10.93 million people this year decreased only slightly. The birth rate, although higher than the previous year, remains very low.
Changes in China's demographic situation, such as a slight decline in the population in the provinces and rapid urbanization, demonstrate the seriousness of the problem. Moving to cities usually leads to higher child-rearing costs and difficulties for many young people to start families, partly explained by financial insecurity and social problems related to jobs and high education costs.
Increased costs for the elderly and difficulties in the social security system are intensifying the negative impact of the demographic decline. Forecasts show that China's pension system will be under great pressure, with the number of people over 60 expected to exceed 400 million by 2035, while the number of women of reproductive age will continue to decline dramatically.
Chinese authorities have already unveiled a set of measures to overcome the demographic crisis. They called for educational initiatives to emphasize the importance of marriage and to integrate these topics into university curricula. It was also emphasized that effective dissemination of ideas about positivity and support for young families and the birth rate will be key in trying to reverse this trend.
Even with current efforts to counter it, China is in the midst of a slow process of a growing demographic and social crisis, and the country will need to undertake serious structural reforms if it is to reverse the demographic decline it is already facing.