China’s population has fallen for a fourth consecutive year, hitting its lowest birthrate since 1949 despite government efforts to boost fertility.
For the fourth consecutive year, China’s population has declined, dropping to record low levels.
After decades of strict birthrate control, Chinese authorities are experimenting with new measures to encourage larger families, from taxing condoms to offering tax-free kindergarten education.
Yet, new population figures just released by the Chinese government show that the population fell again in 2025, reaching its lowest ever recorded.
China’s population was 1.404 billion last year, around three million less than in 2024.
Births also have declined, falling to 7.92 million in 2025, down from 9.54 million the previous year – the lowest number since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949.
Once the world's most populous country, China was surpassed by India in 2023.
Like many other countries, it's now facing a declining fertility rate. According to data from the World Bank, China’s fertility rate was just 1 in 2023, far below the 2.1 considered the “replacement rate” needed to maintain a stable population.
For decades, the Chinese government enforced the so-called “one-child policy”, preventing families from having more than one baby.
After years of population declines, in 2015 the allowed number of kids was increased to two, and in 2021 it was expanded to three –yet numbers keep going down.
Aiming to stop this trend, the Chinese government has introduced several policies to support families and promote childbirth.
New condom tax
From 1 January 2026, condoms and other contraceptives are no longer exempt from taxation, as China tries to boost birth rates.
The policy, approved in 2024, means that these products will now be subject to a 13 percent value-added tax.
To encourage people to start or grow their families, and ease financial burden, the government is simultaneously removing VAT on childcare providers, elder-care institutions and marriage-related services.
The country now offers childcare subsidies for the first, second and third child up to the age of three. Under the scheme, families will receive what the government calls a ‘fertility bonus’ of 3,600 yuan (over €430) per child per year until the age of three.
