China Records Lowest Birth Rate Since 1978
The birth rate in China has been at its lowest level since 1978. The most populous country in the world last year had 8.52 newborns per 1,000 inhabitants.
The Chinese statistics agency blames the corona pandemic that the country recorded an eighteen percent drop to twelve million births last year.
However, experts have long pointed to the high costs of housing, education and health, in addition to the declining enthusiasm of the Chinese to marry.
Due to the declining birth rate and stable death rate, China is heading towards zero population growth, according to experts. That means that the population is expected to shrink in a few years.
The ageing of Chinese society is accelerating. As a result, fewer and fewer working people are taking care of more and more older people.
