China's population, compared to 1.4126 billion in 2021, dropped by 850,000 people to 1.4118 billion last year, losing the title of the world's most populous country to neighboring India. The figures are not unexpected, but have renewed debate about the economic implications and a number of other demographic issues, in addition to how the Chinese government must respond.
China arrived at a turning point last year when deaths outnumbered births. While some experts believe the country will continue to see a period of endless population decline from now on, others argue the trend of zero population growth will continue for a few years, with small rebounds likely to occur after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nevertheless, the majority of experts believe China's population has peaked, and the government must now do its best to accommodate an ageing society and change the demographic structure. Still, a lot more should be done to boost the birth rate.
Read on for the five suggestions from experts.
1. Scrap family planning policies
The effect of dropping family planning policies and skipping birth limits is quite debatable. Surveys indicate only a handful of couples in China want to have over three children, majorly owing to a lack of childcare support and the cost of living crisis.
2. Financial incentives
Authorities across the country have recently been rolling out cash incentives to encourage couples to have kids.
3. Find new ways to change public attitudes
Since the 1980s, when the one-child policy was enacted, a substantial portion of the public has started believing that the fewer children the better. Despite the policy getting abandoned in 2016 in favor of a two-child policy, which has now been upgraded to a three-child policy, the thinking of generations born before the turn of the century hasn't considerably changed.
Demographers believe it is vital to reverse this attitude.
4. Improve women's rights in the workplace
Married women with kids are more susceptible to discrimination. Many are compelled to choose between their career and their children. According to a March 2021 report by recruitment agency Zhaopin, more than 50% of Chinese women have been subjected to questions related to their marital status and family plans during job interviews, while less than 25% of men were asked the same questions.
5. Enhance parental leave
Given the severity of the country's demographic crisis, a number of provinces have started stepping up parental leave entitlements.
Demographers have also urged authorities to improve the parental leave for fathers, which would help encourage husbands to take on a certain portion of childcare responsibilities.
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