The population of China, the world’s most populous country, fell in 2022 for the first time in six decades, an official body said Tuesday. In total, 9.56 million births were registered last year, and they did not make up for the 10.41 million deaths, the National Bureau of Statistics (BNS) announced in a report.
587 million inhabitants in 2100?
Along with aging, population decline, particularly in the number of workers, should have profound repercussions on the Chinese economy for several decades.
The cost of labor is expected to rise, reducing the competitiveness of the Chinese workforce, and the pressure on workers to provide care for the elderly will increase markedly. Many local authorities have already put measures in place to encourage couples to procreate.
The Shenzhen metropolis (south) offers birth bonuses of up to 10,000 yuan (1,370 euros) for a few days and paid allowances until the child turns three years old.
The province of Shandong (east) grants 158 days of maternity leave (60 more than the national norm), starting with the first child.
China could have only 587 million people in 2100, according to the most pessimistic projections of a study by the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
Source: BFM TV
