Chinese population falls for the first time since 1961

China, the world's most populous country, saw its population decline for the first time since 1961.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), China's population fell from 1.4126 billion in 2021 to 1.4118 billion in 2022. The country recorded 9.56 million new births against 10.41 million deaths.

This drop is accounted for by several factors including the high costs of child rearing, the new generation's changing views on marriage and family as well as the declining economic growth due to the pandemic.

This downward trend would continue until the end of the century. Statisticians expect India to become the world's most populous country by 2023.