China's Population Declines by 1.39 Million in 2024 as Deaths Exceed Births

Jan 17, 2025, 04:30 AM

China's population declined for the third consecutive year in 2024, decreasing by 1.39 million to reach 1.40828 billion at the end of the year, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. The country recorded 9.54 million births in 2024, an increase of 520,000 compared with 2023, marking the first increase in births in eight years. The birth rate rose to 6.77 per 1,000 people, up from 6.39 per 1,000 in the previous year. However, deaths numbered 10.93 million, exceeding births and contributing to the population decline. The continued decrease underscores ongoing demographic challenges for China, including an aging population and a potential shortage of working-age people. Experts caution that this trend may accelerate in the coming years.