Quick access to main page (top) Direct access to main contents Quick access to main page (bottom)

China Loses Population Crown to India, Battles Low Birth Rate Crisis

Daniel Kim Views  

'세계 인구 1위' 인도에 내준 中, '저출생' 막기 위해 나온 새로운 대책 뭐길래
Photo=ImageToday

With a population of 1.4 billion, China is grappling with a national emergency due to a low birth rate and is struggling to find solutions.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the total population of mainland China decreased from 1.4118 billion at the beginning of this year to 1.4970 billion, a decrease of 2.08 million people.

In 2022, China recorded 9.56 million newborns, going under the 10 million mark for the first time. The population decreased for the first time in 61 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China (1949) as the number of deaths exceeded the number of births, marking a “dead cross.” China also lost its position as the country with the largest population in India. The total fertility rate last year is estimated to have barely reached 1.0. Recently, the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences made a shocking prediction that China’s population, which was 1.4967 billion last year, will decrease to 525 million by 2100.

The aging of the population has progressed rapidly. As of the end of 2023, China’s population aged 60 and over was 296.97 million, accounting for 21.1% of the total population, and the population aged 65 and over was 216.76 million, accounting for 15.4%. Concerns have been raised that the current low birth rate and aging could hinder China’s growth and become a severe social problem. Chinese authorities have been making efforts to counter the low birth rate by abolishing the one-child policy that lasted for decades in 2017 and encouraging the birth of up to three children.

At the Lianghui (National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference), where China’s national policy is determined, there was also a proposal to lower the marriageable age to “18 years old.”

According to China’s largest portal, Sina.com, and others on the 6th, Marvin Hung, a National People’s Political Consultative Conference member and a youth start-up mentor, suggested shortening China’s compulsory education, which is currently 12 years, to 9 years.

Hung suggested, “Let’s shorten elementary school from 6 to 5 years, middle school from 3 to 2 years, and high school from 3 to 2 years, each by one year.” In this case, children would enter elementary school at age 6 and graduate from high school at age 15, which means they could enter society quickly even if they graduate from college at age 19.

Hung predicted that “(Such reform) will help young people’s career choices, marriage, childbirth, etc.”

A professor at Sichuan University Huashi Hospital and a member of the Political Consultative Conference suggested lowering the legal marriageable age in China to 18 for both men and women. He said, “We need to deal with the realistic problem of low birth rate.”

Currently, in China, men can legally marry at 22 and women at 20.

He also emphasized, “We need to quickly promote policies such as extending women’s paid maternity leave to 2 years, reducing infertility treatment costs, and easing the burden of child-rearing costs.”

Daniel Kim
content@viewusglobal.com

Comments0

300

Comments0

[ASIA] Latest Stories

  • North Korea Buried in April Snow—Experts Warn of Major Crop Damage After Climate Shock
  • North Korea’s Smartest Teens Are Being Dragged Into the Military—Here’s Why
  • North Korea Opens Its First Internet Café—and Kim Jong Un Brings His Daughter
  • Vietnam Cracks Down on Imports to Avoid U.S. Tariff Backlash
  • Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Time Spec Breaks Tsukuba Circuit Record, Cementing EV Performance Legacy
  • North Korea Sends Young Volunteers to Dangerous Jobs Under the Guise of Voluntary Participation

You May Also Like

  • 1
    Experts Warn: Toss Your Expired Sunscreen Before It Hurts Your Skin

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    New Drug Helps Patients with Myasthenia Gravis Breathe and Speak Easier

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Bristol-Myers’ Schizophrenia Drug Falls Short in Key Trial

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Novavax COVID Vaccine Still on Hold—More Trials Needed, Says FDA

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Want to Lower Your Blood Pressure? Eat More Bananas, Study Says

    LIFESTYLE 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Weekend Workouts Are Enough to Cut Diabetes Risk, Study Says

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Brushing Right After Eating Could Hurt Your Teeth—Here’s Why

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Early Bedtimes Could Help Teens Boost Brain Power, Study Finds

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Scientists Find a New Reason to Snack on Walnuts

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    It’s Not Just How Long You Sleep—It’s How You Sleep That Matters

    LIFESTYLE 

Must-Reads

  • 1
    Experts Warn: Toss Your Expired Sunscreen Before It Hurts Your Skin

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    New Drug Helps Patients with Myasthenia Gravis Breathe and Speak Easier

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Bristol-Myers’ Schizophrenia Drug Falls Short in Key Trial

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Novavax COVID Vaccine Still on Hold—More Trials Needed, Says FDA

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    Want to Lower Your Blood Pressure? Eat More Bananas, Study Says

    LIFESTYLE 

Popular Now

  • 1
    Weekend Workouts Are Enough to Cut Diabetes Risk, Study Says

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 2
    Brushing Right After Eating Could Hurt Your Teeth—Here’s Why

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 3
    Early Bedtimes Could Help Teens Boost Brain Power, Study Finds

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 4
    Scientists Find a New Reason to Snack on Walnuts

    LIFESTYLE 

  • 5
    It’s Not Just How Long You Sleep—It’s How You Sleep That Matters

    LIFESTYLE 

Share it on...