Archive · 28 Jan 2026
China's Population Shrinks Despite Government Measures
China's population is shrinking, with fewer babies being born and more people dying.
The government has tried to fix this by giving money to families with young kids and making it easier to get married.
However, many young people are still choosing not to have children because it's expensive and hard to balance work and family life.
Experts say that without bigger changes, like better childcare and more affordable housing, the population will keep getting smaller.
This could cause problems for China's economy and society in the future.
China's birth count hit a historic low of 7.92 million in 2023, a 17% drop from the previous year.
The overall population fell by 3.39 million to 1.4049 billion, with deaths rising to 11.31 million.
Government measures to boost population include childcare subsidies and easier marriage registration.
Marriage registrations dropped sharply in 2024 but showed signs of rebound in 2025.
Experts warn that without comprehensive support, the demographic decline may not be reversed.
- Who
- China's government and population
- What
- Population decline and demographic shift
- When
- 2023 and 2024
- Where
- China
- Why
- Aging society, economic pressures, and lingering effects of past family planning policies
- Birth Count (2023)
- 7.92 million
- Birth Count (2022)
- 9.54 million
- Population Decline (2023)
- 3.39 million
- Total Population (2023)
- 1.4049 billion
- Deaths (2023)
- 11.31 million
- Childcare Subsidy per Child
- 10,800 yuan ($1,534)
- Marriage Registrations (2024)
- 6.106 million
- Projected Marriages (2025)
- 6.9 million