China’s birth rate fell to 5.6 per 1,000 people in 2025, the lowest level on record according to data compiled by Wind Information dating back to the 1950s.
The statistics bureau reported Monday that 7.9 million babies were born last year, down from 9.5 million in 2024. The decline continued despite government efforts to encourage larger families through subsidies and extended parental leave.
The country began easing its one-child policy nearly a decade ago, but the birth rate has continued to fall.
China records lowest ever birth rate despite government incentives
The only interruption was in 2024, when the rate rose to 6.77 per 1,000 people during the Year of the Dragon, which is traditionally considered an auspicious time to have children.
Policymakers have introduced incentives including cash rewards and tax breaks for households with children under age 3. Beijing extended maternity leave to 158 days in 2025, up from 98 days in 2024.
The share of the population aged 60 and above rose to 23 per cent in 2025, up from 22 per cent in 2024. The statistics bureau reported that the population fell for a fourth year, declining by 3.4 million to 1.405 billion last year.
Economists have warned that a shrinking workforce and an ageing population pose economic risks. Fewer babies mean a smaller workforce in the future to support a growing cohort of retirees, creating pressure on the pension system. Higher social security contributions could squeeze disposable income for younger workers.
World Bank data showed that the fertility rate, defined as births per woman, fell to 1 in China in 2023, the most recent year available. The global average level was 2.2.
