To tackle its declining birth rates, China has kicked off a nationwide survey aimed at uncovering the reasons behind its citizens’ hesitation or “fear” of parenthood. This initiative will engage 30,000 participants across 1,500 communities in 150 counties to pinpoint factors shaping public views on having children.
The survey will delve into familial challenges and the psychological barriers surrounding childbearing. The findings, as noted by the National Health Commission’s China Population and Development Research Center, will serve as a scientific foundation for improving fertility policies and introducing new incentives, according to the state-backed Global Times.
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Even with the abolition of the one-child policy in 2016 and other initiatives designed to promote family growth, China’s birth rates remain alarmingly low. In 2023, the rate dropped to a historic low of 6.39 births per 1,000 people, down from 12.43 in 2017, with the number of newborns decreasing from 18.8 million in 2016 to just 9.5 million in 2023—the lowest since 1949.
This decline poses significant challenges for China’s future, with a shrinking workforce and an aging populace potentially undermining the economic strength of the world’s second-largest economy and putting a strain on social welfare. Song Jian, a demographer at Renmin University, pointed out that while the two-child policy expanded to allow for three children in 2021, the anticipated reversal in birth trends has yet to materialize.
Song emphasized to the Global Times that while the survey won’t provide instant solutions, it can help refine policies with relevant data. China’s fertility rate plummeted to 1.0 in 2023, marking its seventh consecutive year of decline. The population has also begun shrinking, with 2022 seeing the first drop since 1962.
Compounding these issues is the fact that China is on track to become a super-aged society, with individuals aged 65 and older projected to make up nearly 20% of the population—and 28% within the next 20 years—according to the World Bank. These demographic changes could further disrupt economic and social stability.
While various measures to support fertility, including local incentives and a focus on reducing living expenses, have been attempted, they have yet to change the troubling trend in birth rates.