By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
In a stark revelation, the Beijing statistics office reports an accelerated decline in China’s population in 2023.
The People’s Republic witnessed a decrease of 2.08 million, with approximately 1.41 billion inhabitants recorded at the end of December, marking a significant downturn from the previous year.
The challenging demographic landscape sees a continual slowdown in births, with a mere 9.02 million babies born in the reported period, down from 9.56 million in 2022. Simultaneously, the number of deaths has surged from 10.41 million to 11.1 million, potentially influenced by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
China grapples with the aftermath of the decades-long “one-child policy,” witnessing a persistent decline in birth rates and an increasingly aged population.
Despite a modest uptick in birth rates post the relaxation of birth control policies since 2016, experts attribute the concerning trend to the exorbitant costs of housing, education, and healthcare, coupled with a diminishing inclination towards marriage.
This demographic contraction echoes historical occurrences, reminiscent of the population decline experienced in 1960 and 1961 due to severe famines following the tumultuous “Great Leap Forward” industrialization campaign.
Notably, the last instance of population growth occurred in 2021, with an increase of 450,000 individuals.
In essence, China grapples with a multifaceted challenge, navigating the consequences of past policies, economic dynamics, and shifting societal norms impacting its demographic landscape.
