China's birth rate: record low in 2021

In 2021, China recorded its lowest birth rate since 1978, the year when annual population statistics were introduced. The rate stood at 7.52 births per 1 000 people. In 2020, the rate was 8.52 per thousand people.

In 2021, nearly 10.6 million babies were born, 11.66% less than in 2020 and 27.65% less than in 2019.

In 2021, China's population increased by 480 000 to reach 1.413 billion. The percentage of people of working age (15-59 years) dropped to 62.5%, a 0.8% decrease compared to 2020. It was 70.1% ten years ago.

It should be recalled that China abandoned the one-child policy in 2016 by allowing families to have a second child. By 2021, the Asian giant had also allowed couples to have three children.