China's population has fallen for a fourth consecutive year, and at a greater clip
China's population has fallen for a fourth consecutive year, and at a greater clip
20 January 2026
The population dropped by 3.39 million to 1.405 billion in 2025.
The total number of births also fell to its lowest rate in decades, from 9.54 million in 2024, to just 7.92 million last year.
Marriages in China also plunged by a fifth.
China's population has been shrinking for several years, and is ageing rapidly.
It's complicating the government's plan to boost domestic consumption and rein in debt - at a time when pension budgets are already stretched.
© 2026 Newstalk ZB, NZCity
