China: why is the birth rate collapsing?


Sébastien Le Belzic, edited by Solène Delinger

China is facing an unprecedented demographic crisis. Despite the communist regime’s efforts to convince families to grow, the birth rate plummeted last year. In 2021, the country recorded only 10.62 million births against 12 million the previous year. This is its lowest rate since 1978.

China is paying for its 40-year one-child policy. Despite the communist regime’s efforts to convince families to grow, the birth rate plummeted last year. In 2021, the country recorded only 10.62 million births, almost as few as in 1961, during the Cultural Revolution of Mao Tse Toung.

“One child is enough”

At this rate, China could lose its title as the most populous country in the world within two years. The latest official data confirms a rapid aging of the population and the collapse of the birth rate, despite the end of 40 years of the one-child policy. The Chinese are not in a hurry to have a large family, like this young mother from Beijing.

“I’m getting married. I wanted to have several children, but I had my first very young, because of family pressure. That’s why with my husband, finally, we decided not to ‘have only one child, but it’s enough,’ she testifies at the microphone of Europe 1.

Education and health, a financial burden

Families first complain about the rising cost of living, including the financial burden of education and health. To restart the birth rate, the State has banned private lessons and is considering a system of family allowances on the French model. Some cities even offer a bonus of 3,000 euros for the birth of a third child.

If nothing is done, a quarter of the Chinese population will be over 60 by 2030, with disastrous consequences for the pension system, which will become impossible to finance.



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