China reports record low birth rate and aging population in 2025

Data from the China Statistical Yearbook 2026 reveals a significant demographic shift in China. In 2025, the country's natural population growth rate fell to -2.41‰, with only seven provinces reporting positive growth. The total number of births dropped to 7.92 million, a historic low following a decline from 9.54 million in 2024.

For the first time, the number of elderly citizens aged 65 and older (223.65 million, or 15.9% of the population) has surpassed the number of children under 15 (212.76 million, or 15.1%). The elderly dependency ratio reached 23.1%, while the total demographic dependency rate stood at 45.1%.

Experts attribute the declining fertility rate to high economic pressures, rising living costs, and shifting social values, such as delayed marriage and a preference for smaller families. The total fertility rate remains well below the replacement level of 2.1. In response, authorities have implemented measures including national subsidies for children under three and a gradual increase in the retirement age, though these efforts have yet to reverse the trend.