Residents dismiss China’s contraceptive tax as birth rate fix

China has made condoms and other contraceptives more expensive as it tries to boost birth rates, but residents in Beijing and analysts say the measure will have little impact.

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Consumers must now pay a 13 per cent value-added tax for contraception including condoms, after Beijing removed exemptions on the products from Jan 1.

Childcare and marriage brokerage services are exempt.

The government has sought to boost China’s flagging birth rate, concerned about the rapidly ageing and shrinking population, as well as record low marriage rates.

But young people in Beijing told AFP that taxing contraceptives will not address the root issues they say are stopping people from having children.

“The immense pressure on young people in China today - from employment to daily life - has absolutely nothing to do with condoms,” said a resident in her 30s, who wanted to be known only as Jessica.

Ms Jessica said that there was a notable class divide in Chinese society and many people felt their future was too uncertain to start a family.