China's Birth Rate Plummets to Record Low Since 1949 Amid Deepening Demographic Crisis

• China's birth rate fell to a record low of 5.6 per 1,000 people in 2025, the lowest since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949.
• The number of newborns decreased by 1.62 million, totaling 7.92 million, a 17% decline from the previous year.
• China's total population shrank by 3.4 million to 1.405 billion, marking the sharpest fall since the 1960 Great Famine.
• Despite government incentives like extended leave and financial support, pro-natalist policies have not significantly boosted birth rates.
• Factors contributing to the decline include fewer women of childbearing age, declining marriage rates, and the lasting impact of the one-child policy.

Why It Matters: China faces a severe demographic crisis with its lowest birth rate since 1949, threatening long-term economic stability.