The largest Asian country may be on the brink of a demographic crisis.

Map of Asia with a demographic graph crossed out
Map of Asia with a demographic graph crossed out

The demographic situation in China may worsen by 2035

According to experts, China's population will begin to decline as early as 2022. According to statistics from The Wall Street Journal, by 2035 the country may be in a similar situation to the city of Fushun, where 30% of the population is already 60 years old or older.

By 2035, China will be just like Fushun now, where, according to UN estimates, 30 percent of Chinese people are 60 years old or older.

The city of Fushun in northeast China is an example of an aging population. According to the newspaper, there is widespread advertising for dental implants and cemeteries, indicating a large number of elderly residents.

In 2019, the National Bureau of Statistics of China recorded the lowest birth rate in the last 60 years. The population of China in 2019 was 1.4 billion (excluding residents of Macau, Hong Kong, and overseas territories), and only 14.65 million children were born, the lowest figure since 1961. The birth rate was 10.48 per 1,000 people, also the lowest figure since 1949 when China was founded.

This low birth rate is related to the demographic policy established in the 1970s with the principle of 'one family - one child'. This principle has led to a decrease in the number of working-age citizens.

In 2023, China's population decreased by 2.08 million. This decline and aging population is a serious concern for Beijing as it affects the labor force and slows down the economy, which has already been hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.


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