Official Chinese data shows that in 2025, China’s population declined for the fourth consecutive year, decreasing by 3.39 million to 1.405 billion, a faster drop than in 2024.
Data from China’s National Bureau of Statistics reveals that the total number of newborns in 2025 fell to 7.92 million, down from 9.54 million in 2024, marking the lowest level in decades; meanwhile, the number of deaths increased to 11.31 million, higher than 10.93 million in 2024.
According to foreign media reports, since 2022, China’s population has continued to shrink and its aging process has accelerated. This has made China’s efforts to boost domestic consumption and manage debt more complex. As hundreds of millions prepare to leave the workforce while pension budgets are already strained, these challenges are becoming more pronounced.
Yi Fuxian, a demographer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said: “Children are 'super consumers.' With such low birth rates, China’s domestic demand is likely to remain sluggish, making the economy more dependent on exports.”
In 2024, the number of marriage registrations in China plunged by one-fifth year-on-year, the largest drop in history, with only 6.1 million couples registering, down from 7.68 million in 2023.
In addition to falling birth rates, the aging problem is also becoming increasingly serious. China now has 323 million people aged 60 and above, accounting for 23% of the total population, an increase of one percentage point from the previous year. The United Nations predicts that by 2100, up to half of China’s population could be over 60 years old.