China records fourth straight year of population decline as births fall to levels not seen since the eighteenth century
China's population fell by 3.39 million in 2025 to 1.405 billion as births plummeted. Rapid aging now presents deep challenges for economic growth and pensions.
Insights:
The National Bureau of Statistics released official data on January 19, 2026, showing that the population of CN 
CNfell by 3.39 million in 2025 to 1.405 billion. This represents the fourth consecutive year of population decline for CNsince the trend began in 2022. Total births in CNdropped to 7.92 million in 2025, a 17% decrease from the 9.54 million births recorded in 2024. Meanwhile, deaths in CNrose to 11.31 million from 10.93 million in the previous year.
CNfell by 3.39 million in 2025 to 1.405 billion. This represents the fourth consecutive year of population decline for CNsince the trend began in 2022. Total births in CNdropped to 7.92 million in 2025, a 17% decrease from the 9.54 million births recorded in 2024. Meanwhile, deaths in CNrose to 11.31 million from 10.93 million in the previous year.The birth rate in CNreached 5.63 per 1,000 people in 2025, while the death rate rose to 8.04 per 1,000 people, marking the highest level since 1968. Demographic researcher yi fuxian pointed out that births in 2025 are now at roughly the same level as in 1738, a time when the population of CNwas only 150 million. The current fertility rate stands at approximately 1 birth per woman, which is well below the 2.1 replacement rate.
