China's population fell for the fourth consecutive year in 2025, with registered births plummeting to a record low. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported 7.92 million births in 2025, a rate of 5.63 per 1,000 people, marking a 17% decrease from the 9.54 million births in 2024. This is the lowest number of births recorded since 1949 when statistical record-keeping began in China.

The overall population decreased by 3.39 million to 1.405 billion. Deaths also increased, rising to 11.31 million from 10.93 million the previous year, according to the NBS. The declining birthrate and increasing mortality rate have deepened concerns about the country's aging population, shrinking workforce, and potential long-term economic consequences.

Yi Fuxian, a demographer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, noted the severity of the situation, stating that the birth rate in 2025 was comparable to that of 1738 when China's population was only around 150 million.

The Chinese government has implemented various policies aimed at encouraging people to have more children, including financial incentives, extended maternity leave, and improved childcare facilities. However, these measures have so far failed to reverse the downward trend. Factors contributing to the declining birth rate include the high cost of raising children, increasing educational expenses, and a preference for smaller families among younger generations. The one-child policy, implemented from 1979 to 2015, also had a lasting impact on family size preferences.

The shrinking workforce could strain China's economic growth, potentially leading to labor shortages and increased dependency ratios, where a smaller working population supports a larger elderly population. This demographic shift could also put pressure on the country's pension and healthcare systems.

The current situation presents significant challenges for China's future. Experts suggest that more comprehensive policies are needed to address the underlying factors contributing to the declining birth rate and to mitigate the potential economic and social consequences of an aging population. The government is expected to announce further measures in the coming months aimed at boosting fertility rates and supporting families.