China is grappling with a striking decline in its fertility rate, which has reached an unprecedented low of 1.09 in 2022. This figure is expected to raise alarms within the authorities, who are actively seeking ways to reverse the dwindling trend of new births in the country.
The report, published on Tuesday, cites data from China’s Population and Development Research Center, highlighting that the nation’s fertility rate now stands as the lowest among countries with populations exceeding 100 million. China already shares one of the world’s lowest fertility rates with countries like South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
The concern over China’s first population decline in six decades and its rapidly aging demographic has spurred Beijing into action, prompting a range of measures to boost birth rates. These measures include financial incentives and improved childcare facilities. President Xi Jinping convened a meeting in May to delve into this critical issue.
China has articulated its commitment to enhancing population quality through education, science, and technology, aiming to maintain a “moderate fertility” level that can support future economic growth.
Obstacles such as high childcare costs and the need for women to pause their careers have deterred many from having children or having more than one. The persistence of gender discrimination and traditional gender roles, where women are predominantly responsible for child-rearing, remains pervasive across the nation. Although recent months have seen an increase in discussions about shared parenting responsibilities, most provinces still have limited provisions for paternity leave.
In a separate announcement on Tuesday, Hong Kong’s Family Planning Association revealed that the number of childless women in the region had more than doubled over the past five years, reaching 43.2% last year.
You can also read: New Jersey High Court Backs Catholic School in Premarital Sex Firing
Furthermore, the proportion of couples with one or two children has seen a significant drop, while the average number of children per woman has plummeted from 1.3 in 2017 to a historic low of 0.9 last year, as indicated by the association’s survey.