FOR DECADES, CHINA HAS TRIED to rein in its population growth, permitting families only one child. Now, as it faces a decline, Beijing is trying to reverse what appears to be an almost inevitable trend, including by limiting abortions.
In January 2023, China's National Bureau of Statistics revealed the population had fallen for the first time in decades-down roughly 850,000 people in 2022 from the previous year's 1.41 billion.
For a country whose massive workforce has helped push toward a rapid economic expansion, falling birth rates spells pessimism.
Wang Feng, a professor of sociology at the University of California, Irvine, and a leading expert on demography, aging and inequality, said the decline in the most populous country is unprecedented.
"It is long-term, irreversible and deep," he told Newsweek. "By one projection of the United Nations, by the end of this century China may have a population size that's barely above half of what it is now," he continued.
"In less than 30 years, by 2050, the median age of China's population half of the population-will reach over the age of 50, up from less than 40 at the turn of the century." In 2022, Beijing introduced policies improving pre- and post-natal services, hoping to boost births. But the measures are yet to reverse the decline experts think they might not be enough.
How China Reached This Point
This demographic shift has been similar to that of Western countries; as child mortality decreased, people had fewer children, and as the cost of raising a child increased, many were unable to afford to have them-especially millennials, hit by two recessions during their lifetime.
"More and more, young people do not want to have kids or even marry," Susan Greenhalgh, research professor of Chinese society at the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University, told Newsweek.
Bu hikaye Newsweek Europe dergisinin April 12, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Newsweek Europe dergisinin April 12, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
ARABIAIAN MIGHT
SAUDI ARABIA'S INCREASING STRENGTH MEANS IT NOW HAS MUCH MORE CLOUT WITH ITS PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE U.S.
Bringing Trump's Trial to Life
Sketch artist Isabelle Brourman tells Newsweek what it was like covering the former president’s court case
Iran Examines the Nuclear Option
Tehran’s rhetoric could spark an arms race in the Middle East like never before
Climate Conviction at What Price?
Fifty years ago experts doubted Americans would pay to save the environment. Only some of their fears are still true
Most Loved Workplaces 2024
THE WORLD'S MOST LOVED WORKPLACES ARE REMARKABLE FOR A variety of reasons.
Maya Hawke
MAYA HAWKE WEARS MANY HATS: ACTOR, WRITER,SINGER. BUT FOR Hawke, everything comes down to words.
Jacob Anderson
ANNE RICE'S NOVEL INTERVIEW WITH THE Vampire has a rabid fan base, intensely protective of the story and any adaptations of it.
VOTES OF NO CONFIDENCE
Why recent U.K. election results will ring alarm bells for Joe Biden
BIDEN'S BATTLEGROUND ELECTION
A small number of Democrats PROTESTING the president's support for Israel's war in Gaza could PREVENT him from winning a second term
'It's Time to Treat Addiction Like Cancer'
Both are serious illnesses but, unlike those struggling with substance use disorders, didn’t face shame and stigma when seeking help over my tumors