The number of births in China dropped in 2021 to an unprecedented level not seen since at least 1978, according to official data released on Monday. This decline is attributed to uncertainties about the future and the cost of education. The country is facing a demographic crisis, with an accelerating aging workforce, economic slowdown, and the lowest population growth in decades.
The birth rate in the world's most populous country was 7.52 births per thousand people in 2021, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, compared to 8.52 in 2020. This is the lowest rate recorded since at least 1978, the year China began publishing its annual statistical reports.
China has relaxed its birth control policy in recent years, allowing couples to have two children in 2016, then three last year. However, these measures have not led to a significant increase in births, as couples refrain from having children due to high living costs, housing, and particularly the expenses related to children's education.
In 2021, the country recorded 10.62 million births, according to official data. The population growth rate fell to 0.34 per thousand people last year, down from 1.45 in 2000.
