The "National Business Daily" reported today, Tuesday, that the birth rate in China reached a record low of 1.09 in 2022, according to estimates. This figure is likely to raise concerns among authorities trying to increase the declining number of newborns in the country. The government-supported newspaper noted that this figure, from the China Population and Development Research Center, positions China with the lowest birth rate among all countries with populations exceeding 100 million.
China's birth rate is already one of the lowest in the world, alongside South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Beijing is experimenting with a range of measures to raise the birth rate, including offering financial incentives and improving childcare facilities, due to concerns over the first population decline in six decades and the rapid increase in the elderly population. Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired a meeting in May to discuss this issue.
China has stated it will focus on education, science, and technology to enhance quality and improve population health, while striving to maintain a "moderate" birth level to support future economic growth. Rising childcare costs and the necessity for many women to leave their jobs have led many to refrain from having more children or having children at all. Gender disparities and traditional stereotypes regarding women's roles in childcare remain prevalent throughout the country.
In recent months, authorities have increased their messaging about sharing the burdens and responsibilities of child-rearing, but paternity leave remains limited in most regions.
