A nation that once feared overpopulation now dreads extinction-level depopulation. China’s birth rate has cratered to its lowest ever, prompting a desperate government pivot from restricting families to promoting them aggressively.
Fresh data underscores the emergency: 7.92 million infants in 2025 versus 9.54 million in 2024 – a 17% nosedive to 5.63 births per 1,000 people, unseen since 1949. The one-child policy’s ghosts haunt this shift; it suppressed births through violence and coercion, fostering son bias that imbalances sexes and shrinks the marriage pool.
Eased to two-child then three-child policies failed to reverse trends. Urban millennials balk at parenthood amid inflation, stagnant wages, housing crises, and sexist workplaces. Women, scarred by past abuses, hesitate despite perks like childcare aid.
‘From force to persuasion, the state’s grip persists,’ observes commentary. Beijing frames babies as economic saviors for growth and elder care, sidelining autonomy. As fertile women dwindle from delayed childbearing and low rates, projections spell trouble: workforce shrinkage, pension crises, innovation stalls. Success hinges on tackling root causes – gender equity, work-life balance, cost relief – not just slogans. China’s future hangs in this delicate balance.