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China’s Births Fall to Record Low as Population Shrinks Again in 2025

The latest official figures point to a deepening demographic squeeze that threatens China’s labor force and pension system.

Overview

  • National statistics show 7.92 million births in 2025, a 17% drop from 2024 and just 5.63 births per 1,000 people.
  • China’s total fertility rate fell to about 0.98 children per woman, far below the 2.1 replacement level.
  • The population declined by roughly 3.4 million to about 1.405 billion as deaths reached 11.31 million, or 8.04 per 1,000.
  • The number of people aged 60 and above rose to about 323 million, accounting for more than 23% of the population.
  • Beijing has paired child allowances and a three‑child policy with a phased rise in retirement ages over 15 years to ease fiscal and labor pressures.