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China's Birth Rate Plummet: 1.4B to 633M by 2100?
5 Jan
Summary
- UN predicts China's population may halve to 633 million by 2100.
- Young Chinese couples increasingly choose 'dual income no kids'.
- High living costs and career worries deter family planning.
China is grappling with a significant demographic challenge as its population experiences a third consecutive year of decline. United Nations projections suggest the nation's populace could shrink drastically from 1.4 billion today to an estimated 633 million by the year 2100, highlighting a looming crisis.
Younger generations, embracing the 'dual income no kids' (DINK) lifestyle, are actively choosing to remain child-free. This trend is fueled by substantial child-rearing expenses, career anxieties, and a societal shift away from traditional norms. Despite policy changes, including the end of the one-child policy in January 2016 and later relaxations allowing three children, birth rates continue to falter.
Experts note that deeply ingrained cultural shifts and economic uncertainty, compounded by demanding work cultures like the '996' schedule, are significant barriers to increasing fertility. These factors contribute to weak fertility intentions among young Chinese, posing a long-term challenge to the nation's economic development and social structure.
