China’s population fell for the fourth year in a row in 2025, with official data showing a decrease of 3.39 million to about 1.4 billion, marking a faster decline than the previous year, BBC reports. The country’s birth rate dropped to 5.63 per 1,000 people, the lowest since 1949, while the death rate rose to 8.04 per 1,000, the highest since 1968.
The decline comes despite government efforts to boost childbirth, including the introduction of a three-child policy in 2021, cash incentives for children under three, extended maternity leave, and other regional measures. Some policies, such as a new 13% tax on contraceptives, have sparked controversy.
China’s fertility rate remains around one birth per woman, well below the replacement rate of 2.1, similar to trends in South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan. Rising living costs, lifestyle pressures, and an aging population continue to deter couples from having children.
The United Nations warns that China’s population could shrink by more than half by 2100, posing significant economic and social challenges for the country.
