China's 2020 Birth Rate at 8.52 per 1,000... Lowest in 43 Years

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] China's birth rate in 2020 recorded the lowest level in 43 years.

On the 5th, China's state-run Global Times reported, citing the National Bureau of Statistics' statistical yearbook, that China's birth rate in 2020 (number of newborns per 1,000 people) was 8.52.

This is the lowest level in 43 years since 1978.

China's birth rate slightly increased to 12.95 in 2016 compared to the previous year, but has been decreasing annually as 12.43 (2017) → 10.94 (2018) → 10.48 (2019).

The natural population growth rate, which is the birth rate minus the death rate, was recorded at 1.45 per 1,000 people, which the Global Times also reported as the lowest figure since 1978.

The most populous region, Henan Province, saw the number of newborns fall below one million for the first time since 1978, recording 920,000.

In particular, economically advanced regions such as Jiangsu Province on the eastern coast, as well as Beijing and Tianjin, had birth rates ranging from 5.99 to 6.98, far below the average.

Song Jian, Deputy Director of the Population Development Research Center at Renmin University, said, "The COVID-19 pandemic is also one of the factors affecting the birth rate," and predicted, "China will continue to experience low birth rates due to factors such as aging."

He added, "For the government to encourage childbirth, more meticulous and systematic management policies are necessary."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.