Figures published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) mark the fourth consecutive year of population decline, following a decrease of 850,000 people in 2022.
China recorded 7.92 million births last year, a sharp decrease from 9.54 million in 2024 and a new record low since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.
Despite policies announced by local and national authorities to foster a “fertility-friendly society”, the birth rate also fell to historic lows, at 5.63 births per 1,000 people.
Since 2021, China has allowed its citizens to have a third child, although the decision has been met with limited enthusiasm, largely due to the financial burden of raising children and the priority given to career development.
At its 20th National Congress in 2022, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) stressed that the country needs a system that “raises birth rates and reduces the costs of pregnancy, childbirth, education and child-rearing”.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has described the demographic crisis as a “vital issue”.
In 2025, China recorded around 11.31 million deaths, with a mortality rate of 8.04 per 1,000 people, higher than the 7.76 recorded the previous year.
