In 2025, around **** million babies were born in China. The number of births has decreased significantly from **** million in the previous year and is much lower than the ***** million births recorded in 2016. Demographic development in China In 2022, the Chinese population decreased for the first time in decades, and population decline is expected to accelerate in the upcoming years. To curb the negative effects of an aging population, the Chinese government decided in 2013 to gradually relax the so called one-child-policy, which had been in effect since 1979. From 2016 onwards, parents in China were allowed to have two children in general. However, as the recent figures of births per year reveal, this policy change had only short-term effects on the general birth rate: the number of births slightly increased from 2014 onwards, but then started to fell again in 2018. In 2025, China was the second most populous country in the world. China’s aging population The Chinese society is aging rapidly and facing a serious demographic shift towards older age groups. The median age of China’s population has increased massively from about ** years in 1970 to **** years in 2020 and is projected to rise continuously until 2080. In 2020, approximately **** percent of the Chinese were 60 years and older, a figure that is forecast to rise as high as ** percent by 2060. This shift in demographic development will increase social and elderly support expenditure of the society as a whole. One measure for this social imbalance is the old-age dependency ratio, measuring the relationship between economic dependent older age groups and the working-age population. The old-age dependency ratio in China is expected to soar to ** percent in 2060, implying that by then three working-age persons will have to support two elderly persons.

In China, the crude birth rate in 1930 was just under 39 live births per thousand people, meaning that 3.9 percent of the population had been born in that year. The crude birth rate dropped gradually over the next fifteen years, however it then rose to it's highest recorded figure by 1955. Between 1945 and 1950, the Second World War ended and the Chinese Civil War was finally coming to an end, and during this time the crude birth rate rose to almost 47 births per thousand in individual years. The crude birth rate dropped again in the late 1950s, as Chairman Mao's 'Great Leap Forward' failed to industrialize the nation, and resulted in a famine which killed an estimated 45 million people. The 1960s saw some recovery, where the figures rose from 36.4 to 39.5 births per thousand in this decade, however two-child and one-child policies were introduced in the 1970s and 80s, in an attempt to slow China's rapidly growing population. These measures led to the decline of the birth rate, dropping below fifteen births per thousand at the turn of the millennium. From 2000 until now the decline of China's crude birth rate has slowed, falling by just 2.8 births per thousand over the past twenty years, and it is expected to be just below twelve in 2020.

In 2025, the average number of children born per 1,000 people in China ranged at ****. The birth rate has dropped considerably since 2016, and the number of births fell below the number of deaths in 2022 for the first time in decades, leading to a negative population growth rate. Recent development of the birth rate Similar to most East-Asian countries and territories, demographics in China today are characterized by a very low fertility rate. As low fertility in the long-term limits economic growth and leads to heavy strains on the pension and health systems, the Chinese government decided to support childbirth by gradually relaxing strict birth control measures, that had been in place for three decades. However, the effect of this policy change was considerably smaller than expected. The birth rate increased from **** births per 1,000 inhabitants in 2010 to ***** births in 2012 and remained on a higher level for a couple of years, but then dropped again to a new low in 2018. This illustrates that other factors constrain the number of births today. These factors are most probably similar to those experienced in other developed countries as well: women preferring career opportunities over maternity, high costs for bringing up children, and changed social norms, to name only the most important ones. Future demographic prospects Between 2020 and 2023, the birth rate in China dropped to formerly unknown lows, most probably influenced by the coronavirus pandemic. As all COVID-19 restrictions were lifted by the end of 2022, births figures showed a catch-up effect in 2024. However, the scope of the rebound was limited. A population breakdown by five-year age groups indicates that the drop in the number of births is also related to a shrinking number of people with child-bearing age. The age groups between 15 and 29 years today are considerably smaller than those between 30 and 44, leaving less space for the birth rate to increase. This effect is exacerbated by a considerable gender gap within younger age groups in China, with the number of females being much lower than that of males.

Historical dataset showing China birth rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

CN: Population: Birth Rate: Jiangxi data was reported at 0.665 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.652 % for 2023. CN: Population: Birth Rate: Jiangxi data is updated yearly, averaging 1.380 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2024, with 35 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.459 % in 1990 and a record low of 0.652 % in 2023. CN: Population: Birth Rate: Jiangxi data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Birth Rate: By Region.

China: The number of crude births per 1000 people, per year: The latest value from 2023 is 6.39 births per 1000 people, a decline from 6.77 births per 1000 people in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 17.86 births per 1000 people, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for China from 1960 to 2023 is 19.51 births per 1000 people. The minimum value, 6.39 births per 1000 people, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 43.37 births per 1000 people was recorded in 1963.

CN: Population: Birth Rate: Ningxia data was reported at 1.060 % in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.162 % for 2021. CN: Population: Birth Rate: Ningxia data is updated yearly, averaging 1.553 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2022, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.434 % in 1990 and a record low of 1.060 % in 2022. CN: Population: Birth Rate: Ningxia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Birth Rate: By Region.

Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) in China was reported at 6.39 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Birth rate, crude - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2026.

In 2024, the birth rate across different regions in China varied from around 13.9 births per 1,000 inhabitants (per mille) in Tibet to 3.4 per mille in Heilongjiang province. The average national birth rate ranged at 6.8 per mille that year. High disparity of birth rates across China Regional birth rates in China reach their highest values in western and southwestern provinces and autonomous regions. In this part of the country, the economy is less developed than in the coastal provinces and traditional values are more prevalent. At the same time, many people from minority communities live in these areas, who were less affected by strict birth control measures in the past and traditionally have more children. In contrast, the lowest birth rates in recent years were registered in the northwestern provinces Jilin, Liaoning, and Heilongjiang, which is the rust belt of China. This region offers few economic opportunities, and many young people leave for a better life in the eastern provinces. They often leave old people behind, which is one reason why these provinces also have some of the highest mortality rates in China. Future developments As most Chinese regions with a higher fertility rate have only few inhabitants, they cannot compensate for the increasing number of provinces with a declining populace. In the future, only economically successful cites will be able to escape this trend, while many provinces and rural areas will slowly lose a significant share of their population.

CBCS is a mega-cohort study and the first nationally based birth cohort study in China, which aims to investigate and prevent birth defects. Between 2017 and 2021, the study recruited pregnant women from 50 study sites across 17 provinces (Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu, Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangdong and Hainan) in China, of Chinese nationality, between 6 to 13 weeks of gestation, who planned to attend the routine antenatal examination and deliver in the study site. Over 130,000 participants completed the baseline data collection. Participants were followed up at 20-23 weeks and 28-33 weeks of gestation as well as at delivery, pregnancy loss or termination.

CN: Population: Birth Rate: Guangdong data was reported at 0.782 % in 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.889 % for 2024. CN: Population: Birth Rate: Guangdong data is updated yearly, averaging 1.196 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2025, with 36 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.226 % in 1990 and a record low of 0.782 % in 2025. CN: Population: Birth Rate: Guangdong data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Birth Rate: By Region.

Fertility rate, total (births per woman) in China was reported at 0.999 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Fertility rate, total (births per woman) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on February of 2026.

Graph and download economic data for Life Expectancy at Birth, Total for China (SPDYNLE00INCHN) from 1960 to 2023 about life expectancy, birth, life, and China.

Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) in China was reported at 5.227 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2026.

This database provides a comprehensive overview of China's demographics from 1953 to 2020. It includes different segments of the population, such as the population of various regions and autonomous regions: them, birth and death rates, natural population changes, and birth rates.

You'll get data organized by age and gender, allowing a deeper understanding of demographic structure. In addition, the database covers religious displays for several years, providing insight into the country's cultural diversity.

The information in this database is useful for anyone interested in studying China's demographic trends, social changes, and population growth over the past seven decades. Whether you're a student, researcher, or just curious about China's demographics, there's something for you to discover in this dataset.

In 2023, the crude birth rate in live births per 1,000 inhabitants in China amounted to 6.39. Between 1960 and 2023, the figure dropped by 14.47, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

CN: Population: Birth Rate: Shandong data was reported at 0.642 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.601 % for 2023. CN: Population: Birth Rate: Shandong data is updated yearly, averaging 1.142 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2024, with 35 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.821 % in 1990 and a record low of 0.601 % in 2023. CN: Population: Birth Rate: Shandong data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Birth Rate: By Region.

Sex ratio at birth (male births per female births) in China was reported at 1.108 in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Sex ratio at birth (male births per female births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2026.

The CMBC study was a nationally representative birth cohort study designed to investigate the effects of maternal environmental exposures on pregnancy outcomes and child health. The study recruited 7,000 mother-child pairs between September 2015 and September 2023 from seven cities across China. Recruited mothers were aged 18 to 47 years who attended prenatal examinations or deliveries at participating hospitals. Participants were assessed during pregnancy and after birth to assess developmental and health outcomes.

The BBCS was a prospective pregnancy-birth cohort study of over 52,000 mother-child pairs in Beijing, China. Chinese women who were 8-13 weeks pregnant and planning to deliver in the Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital were recruited between July 2017 and December 2021. All participants were followed up around 10 times during the second and third trimesters, every 2-4 weeks before 37 weeks of gestation and weekly after 37 weeks of gestation. All newborns delivered by the participants were followed-up for 3 years after birth to establish a database of early infant development.