China’s population crisis demands ‘dynamic monitoring’ of households, more support: adviser

The proposals came amid persistent concerns regarding China’s demographic crisis – a shrinking population is rapidly ageing as births plunge and many young adults are increasingly reluctant to start a family.

Economists have called China’s demographic dilemma one of the major obstacles to the expansion of the world’s second-largest economy.

But even with demographers expecting a brief rebound in newborn numbers over the next couple of years – owing to end-of-pandemic effects, a raft of pronatalist policies being implemented, and this being the auspicious Year of the Dragon in China’s zodiac – the longer-term outlook expects births to continue declining.

The demographers point to fewer women of childbearing age and a significantly more averse attitude toward marriage and children among young adults.

While the number of Chinese households is expected to increase to 550 million by 2035, up from 494 million in 2020, the average family size could drop to 2.3 people from 2.62 people, according to the China Population and Development Research Centre.

Meanwhile, He said that China’s demographic statistics and public policies do not fully illustrate or address the lack of support and attention given to households.

“China should consider families as the fundamental unit of public policy – strengthen family values, consolidate family functions, and establish a unique family-public-policy system with Chinese characteristics,” He said, adding that some goals include stabilising fertility expectations and enhancing the ability of families to spend more money.

She also said research institutions should be encouraged to jointly establish a national population and family big data laboratory for statistical analysis and policy simulation to enhance decision-making support, while also incorporating artificial intelligence-driven population models into national research and development plans to promote innovative research methods.