China's Population Shrinks Fourth Year in a Row, Birth Rate Hits Record Low

• China's population declined for the fourth consecutive year in 2025, with registered births falling to a record low of 7.92 million.
• The birth rate dropped by 17% from 2024, reaching its lowest point since records began in 1949, despite government incentives.
• The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a population decrease of 3.39 million to 1.405 billion, while deaths rose to 11.31 million.
• China's fertility rate is one of the world's lowest, at about one birth per woman, significantly below the replacement rate of 2.1.
• The aging population, with over 23% aged 60+, poses a significant challenge, with 400 million predicted to be over 60 by 2035.

Why It Matters: China faces a deepening demographic crisis as its population shrinks for the fourth year, driven by a record-low birth rate.