Birth rates in China hit a record low in 2023 as the country reported a second straight year of population decline.
Topline
China’s population declined for a second consecutive year in 2023 driven by declining birth rates and a major surge in the number of deaths, highlighting the potential impact of the country’s decision to abandon its stringent zero Covid strategy at the start of the year.Key Facts
According to data published by China’s National Bureau of Statistics, the country recorded 11.1 million deaths in 2023—an increase of around 690,000 compared to the previous year.
China’s death rate for 2023 stood at 7.87 deaths per 1,000 people, up from 7.37 per 1,000 the previous year and the highest it has been since 1974 during Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution.
