Overview

• The new national policy provides $500 per child under three each year and covers births from January 1 onward.
• The Communist Party and State Council approved the measure to counter three consecutive years of population decline.
• China recorded only 9.54 million births in 2024—half the number in 2016—and lost 1.39 million residents last year.
• Over 20 provincial administrations already offer childcare subsidies, with Hohhot granting up to 100,000 yuan per newborn for large families.
• China’s population is ageing rapidly, with nearly 310 million citizens aged 60 and above in 2024, raising concerns about future pension and healthcare costs.