China aims to stabilise new births with policy support

· Economy · China

China is aiming to stabilise the number of new births with policy support, according to a report, after the country's population fell for a fourth consecutive year in 2025, with experts warning it could decline further. Beijing has rolled out a series of measures in recent years to encourage childbearing, including subsidies and childcare support, as a shrinking workforce weighs on growth and pension systems. The latest effort underscores how demographic decline has become a central economic policy concern for the world's second-largest economy.

Why it matters:China's shrinking population affects its growth potential, pension systems and global demand, making birth policy a matter beyond its borders.

Key points

  • China's population fell for a fourth straight year in 2025
  • Beijing seeks to stabilise new births with policy support
  • Experts warn the decline could deepen

Sources (original reporting)

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