China records sharp population drop in 2025
Beijing | Desk: China's population decline continued for the fourth consecutive year, falling to 1.405 billion in 2025. According to official data released on Monday, China's population decreased by 3.39 million last year, a much sharper decline than in 2024.
Most concerning is that the country's birth rate has reached a record low. Only 7.92 million babies were born in 2025, a 17 percent decrease compared to the previous year.
Experts warn that this birth rate is roughly equivalent to that of 1738, when China's total population was only around 150 million. Conversely, the death rate increased, with 11.3 million deaths recorded in 2025, the highest since 1968.
The rapidly aging population has become a major economic challenge for China, where the number of people over 60 has reached 23 percent of the total population. To alleviate this pressure, the government has raised the retirement age to 63 for men and 58 for women.
However, amidst declining marriage rates, the government has taken drastic measures to promote a "positive marriage culture" and improve the birth rate, including subsidies and free IVF treatments.
In 2026, medical expenses for pregnant women will be completely free, as China's fertility rate has fallen to just 1 child per woman, significantly below the 2.1 rate needed for population stability.
