In 2024, around **** million babies were born in China. The number of births has increased slightly from **** million in the previous year, but 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 2024, China was the second most populous country in the world, overtaken by India that year. 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.

China Number of Births data was reported at 10.588 Person th in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,213.144 Person th for 2020. China Number of Births data is updated yearly, averaging 12.486 Person th from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2021, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,213.144 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 9.684 Person th in 2011. China Number of Births 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: No of Birth, Death, Natural Growth, Birth Rate, Death Rate and Natural Growth Rate, Life Expectancy, Dependency Ratio.

In 2024, 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 might be 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.

The fertility rate of a country is the average number of children that women from that country will have throughout their reproductive years. In 1930, China's fertility rate was 5.5 children per woman, and this number then dropped to just under five over the next fifteen years, as China experienced a civil war and the Second World War. The fertility rate rose rather quickly after this to over 6.1 in 1955, before dropping again in the late 1950s, as Chairman Mao's 'Great Leap Forward' failed to industrialize the nation, and resulted in widespread famine that killed an estimated 45 million people. In the decade following this, China's fertility rate reached it's highest level in 1970, before the implementation of the two-child policy in the 1970s, and the one-child policy** in the 1980s, which radically changed the population structure. The fertility rate fell to an all time low in the early 2000s, where it was just 1.6 children per woman. However this number has increased to 1.7 today, and the two-child policy was reintroduced in 2016, replacing the one-child policy that had been effective for over 36 years.

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 August of 2025.

China: The number of births per 1000 people, per year: The latest value from is births per 1000 people, unavailable from births per 1000 people in . In comparison, the world average is 0.00 births per 1000 people, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for China from to is births per 1000 people. The minimum value, births per 1000 people, was reached in while the maximum of births per 1000 people was recorded in .

In 2023, the birth rate across different regions in China varied from around 13.7 births per 1,000 inhabitants (per mille) in Tibet to 2.9 per mille in Heilongjiang province. The average national birth rate ranged at 6.4 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.

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 September of 2025.

China Number of Births: 2nd Birth data was reported at 4.563 Person th in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 522.742 Person th for 2020. China Number of Births: 2nd Birth data is updated yearly, averaging 3.875 Person th from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2021, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 522.742 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 2.837 Person th in 2011. China Number of Births: 2nd Birth 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: No of Birth, Death, Natural Growth, Birth Rate, Death Rate and Natural Growth Rate, Life Expectancy, Dependency Ratio.

China Number of Births: 1st Birth data was reported at 4.796 Person th in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 555.206 Person th for 2020. China Number of Births: 1st Birth data is updated yearly, averaging 7.913 Person th from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2021, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 739.866 Person th in 2010 and a record low of 4.796 Person th in 2021. China Number of Births: 1st Birth 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: No of Birth, Death, Natural Growth, Birth Rate, Death Rate and Natural Growth Rate, Life Expectancy, Dependency Ratio.

China: Deaths of female children under five years of age per 1000 live births: The latest value from 2022 is 6 deaths per 1000 births, a decline from 7 deaths per 1000 births in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 23 deaths per 1000 births, based on data from 187 countries. Historically, the average for China from 1969 to 2022 is 43 deaths per 1000 births. The minimum value, 6 deaths per 1000 births, was reached in 2022 while the maximum of 116 deaths per 1000 births was recorded in 1969.

China: Deaths of children five to fourteen years of age per 1000 live births: The latest value from 2022 is 1 deaths per 1000 births, unchanged from 1 deaths per 1000 births in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 3 deaths per 1000 births, based on data from 187 countries. Historically, the average for China from 1990 to 2022 is 2 deaths per 1000 births. The minimum value, 1 deaths per 1000 births, was reached in 2009 while the maximum of 4 deaths per 1000 births was recorded in 1990.

China Number of Births: 3rd Birth and Above data was reported at 1.229 Person th in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 135.196 Person th for 2020. China Number of Births: 3rd Birth and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 0.657 Person th from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2021, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 135.196 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 0.412 Person th in 2009. China Number of Births: 3rd Birth and Above 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: No of Birth, Death, Natural Growth, Birth Rate, Death Rate and Natural Growth Rate, Life Expectancy, Dependency Ratio.

Time series data for the statistic Sex ratio at birth (male births per female births) and country Hong Kong SAR, China. Indicator Definition:Sex ratio at birth refers to male births per female births. The data are 5 year averages.The indicator "Sex ratio at birth (male births per female births)" stands at 1.08 as of 12/31/2023. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value is equal to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is 0.0.The 3 year change in percent is 0.0.The 5 year change in percent is 0.0.The 10 year change in percent is -1.64.The Serie's long term average value is 1.08. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is 0.305 percent lower, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/1981, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is +1.32%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/2011, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is -6.99%.

This scatter chart displays median age (year) against fertility rate (births per woman) in China. The data is about countries per year.

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 September of 2025.

Malaysia Live Births: Citizens: Chinese data was reported at 65.574 Person th in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 69.985 Person th for 2015. Malaysia Live Births: Citizens: Chinese data is updated yearly, averaging 87.500 Person th from Dec 1993 (Median) to 2016, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 117.000 Person th in 2000 and a record low of 65.574 Person th in 2016. Malaysia Live Births: Citizens: Chinese data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.G006: Vital Statistics: Live Births & Crude Birth Rate.

According to latest figures, the Chinese population decreased by 1.39 million to around 1.408 billion people in 2024. After decades of rapid growth, China arrived at the turning point of its demographic development in 2022, which was earlier than expected. The annual population decrease is estimated to remain at moderate levels until around 2030 but to accelerate thereafter. Population development in China China had for a long time been the country with the largest population worldwide, but according to UN estimates, it has been overtaken by India in 2023. As the population in India is still growing, the country is very likely to remain being home of the largest population on earth in the near future. Due to several mechanisms put into place by the Chinese government as well as changing circumstances in the working and social environment of the Chinese people, population growth has subsided over the past decades, displaying an annual population growth rate of -0.1 percent in 2024. Nevertheless, compared to the world population in total, China held a share of about 17 percent of the overall global population in 2024. China's aging population In terms of demographic developments, the birth control efforts of the Chinese government had considerable effects on the demographic pyramid in China. Upon closer examination of the age distribution, a clear trend of an aging population becomes visible. In order to curb the negative effects of an aging population, the Chinese government abolished the one-child policy in 2015, which had been in effect since 1979, and introduced a three-child policy in May 2021. However, many Chinese parents nowadays are reluctant to have a second or third child, as is the case in most of the developed countries in the world. The number of births in China varied in the years following the abolishment of the one-child policy, but did not increase considerably. Among the reasons most prominent for parents not having more children are the rising living costs and costs for child care, growing work pressure, a growing trend towards self-realization and individualism, and changing social behaviors.

This scatter chart displays death rate (per 1,000 people) against fertility rate (births per woman) in China. The data is about countries per year.