China's Stalled Population Growth

 After some early speculation, the China's government has finally released their official population figures. The overall population of China average annual rise was of 0.53% to a 2020,  1.41178 billion. China  missed its growth target set in 2016, to reach 1.42 billion people by 2020.  The annual growth rate of 0.53% is the lowest since the early 1960s when China was dealing with the aftermath of tens of millions killed by famine

The proportion of citizens aged over 65 increased from 8.9% in 2010 to 13.5%, while the proportion of children grew by just 1.35% and the working population stayed steady, highlighting China’s rapidly ageing population. As a consequence the country would phase in a raising of the retirement age, which has remained unchanged for four decades at 60 for men and 55 for women.

“The number of women of childbearing age … was declining, and there is a postponement of childbearing and the rising cost of child raising,” said Ning. “All of these are reasons behind the decline on newborns." Ning Jizhe, deputy head of the census leading group, acknowledged.

China’s central bank, which in April called for an end to all birth limits, to “fully liberalise and encourage childbirth”, and remove difficulties for women.

China’s population growing at slowest rate in generations | China | The Guardian