Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 11:17am on 19 Jan 2026,Monday International
China’s birth rate fell to a record low in 2025 as the country’s population shrank for the fourth year in a row, official data showed. The birth rate dropped to 5.63 per 1,000 people, while the death rate rose to 8.04 per 1,000. The total population fell by 3.39 million to about 1.4 billion. The decline comes despite government incentives such as cash payments, longer maternity leave, and relaxed family size rules. China ended its one-child policy in 2016 and later allowed up to three children per couple. Experts warn that an ageing population and falling workforce could strain the economy. The United Nations expects China’s population to keep declining through the century. (PC: BBC)
