China's Population Shrinks Despite More Births

China's population has been shrinking for the third consecutive year, despite an increase in the number of babies born. According to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics, the total population stood at 1.41 billion in 2020, compared with 1.43 billion in 2019. This decline comes despite a slight increase in the number of births, which rose to 12 million in 2020 from 11.58 million in 2019.



The shrinking population is a result of a combination of factors, including an aging population and a low fertility rate. The proportion of people aged 60 and above increased to 13.5% in 2020, up from 12.4% in 2019. Meanwhile, the fertility rate fell to 1.3 children per woman in 2020, below the replacement rate of 2.1.



The low fertility rate is a concern for China's future economic growth and labor force. A shrinking population and aging workforce could lead to labor shortages and slower economic growth. The government has implemented policies to encourage births, such as the two-child policy in 2016 and the three-child policy in 2021. However, these policies have not been enough to reverse the trend of declining fertility rates.



To mitigate the impact of the shrinking population, China could consider implementing additional policies to encourage births and support families. These could include financial incentives, such as tax breaks or subsidies, as well as improvements in childcare and education services. Additionally, the government could consider policies to attract and retain migrant workers, who play a significant role in the Chinese economy.

In conclusion, China's population has been shrinking for the third consecutive year, despite an increase in the number of births. The shrinking population is a result of an aging population and a low fertility rate, which could have significant implications for China's future economic growth and labor force. To mitigate the impact of the shrinking population, China could consider implementing additional policies to encourage births and support families.