China’s birth rate hits record low as population shrinks for fourth straight year

China has recorded a record low birth rate, with just eight million babies born last year, intensifying concerns over the country’s shrinking and ageing population.

Despite a series of government incentives aimed at encouraging couples to have more children, the population of China has now declined for the fourth consecutive year.

Incentives fail to lift birth numbers

Authorities have rolled out a range of measures to boost births, including direct cash bonuses for families who have children in some regions. These efforts, however, have so far failed to reverse the downward trend.

China formally scrapped its long-standing one-child policy several years ago, first allowing two children per couple and later increasing the limit to three. Yet most couples are choosing not to expand their families.

High cost of raising children

One of the biggest deterrents is cost. China has become one of the most expensive countries in the world in which to raise a child, driven by housing prices, education expenses and childcare costs.

For many families, the financial pressure outweighs government incentives, making larger families unrealistic.

An ageing population raises economic concerns

At the same time, China is grappling with a rapidly ageing population and a relatively high death rate. This means more workers are leaving the labour force, with too few young people entering to replace them.

Economists warn that this imbalance poses a serious challenge for future economic growth, placing strain on productivity, social services and pension systems.

For more information, listen to international correspondent Adam Gilchrist using the audio player below: