Population in China decreases for second year in a row

Beijing : A downward trend has been reported in China for the second consecutive year in their population growth. It is likely to burden its economy, which is second largest in the world.

According to a data released by China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the population of the country decreased by approximately 2.08 million individuals in 2023 compared to the preceding year. Currently, China's total population stands at 1.409 billion, securing its position as the second most populated nation. India overtook China as the world's most populous country last year.

The decline in population is attributed to record-low birth rates and a surge in Covid-19-related deaths. In 2022, the population decreased by 850,000 individuals, marking the first decline since the Great Famine of 1961 during the era of China's former leader Mao Tse-tung.

The birth rate experienced a historic drop, falling from 6.77 births per 1,000 people to 6.39 – the lowest since the establishment of the Communist regime in China.