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Mandy Zuo

China’s population fell for the first time since 1961 last year as deaths outweighed births six years after Beijing ended its one-child policy in a bid to avoid a looming demographic crisis.
But how did China arrive at a point where it is reported to have lost its status as the world’s most populous nation to India?
1949: Communist Party offers incentives
Communist Party comes to power and promotes growth and offers financial incentives for families with more children.
(Population 541.67 million)
1953: First census
China conducts its first population census.
(Population 587.96 million)


<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

1961: ‘Great Famine’
The ‘Great Famine’, that took place between 1959-61, reduced China’s population from 672.07 million in 1959 to 658.59 million in 1961.
(Population 658.59 million)
1964: Second census
China conducts its second population census.
(Population 704.99 million)
What was China’s 1-child policy and why was it so controversial?
1970: ‘Later, longer, fewer’
The “later, longer, fewer” family planning policy is introduced, allowing a maximum of two children per couple.
(Population 829.92 million)
1980: One-child policy introduced
Deng Xiaoping introduces China’s infamous one-child policy, with violators facing fines and often forced abortions.
(Population 987.05 million)


<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

1982: Third census
China conducts its third population census, which confirms it as the first country with a population of more than 1 billion in 1981.
(Population 1.016 billion)
1990: Fourth census
China conducts its fourth population census.
(Population 1.143 billion)


1991: Replacement rate drops
China’s replacement rate drops below the level needed to maintain a stable population.
(Population 1.158 billion)
2000: Fifth census
China conducts its fifth population census.
(Population 1.267 billion)


2010: Sixth census
China conducts its sixth population census.
(Population 1.34 billion)
2016: One-child policy ends
China’s one-child policy ends in favour of a two-child policy.
(Population 1.392 billion)


2020: Seventh census
China conducts its seventh population census.
(Population 1.412 billion)
2021: Three-child policy introduced
China introduces a three-child policy.
(Population 1.4126 billion)


2022: Historic decline
China’s population declines for the first time in six decades.
(Population 1.4118 billion)

China should stimulate domestic consumption by boosting birth rate

More Chinese leave the knot untied as marriage registrations drop

As China’s birth rates drop, has Guangdong become the country’s ‘golden child’?

Former officials call for parity, reform in China’s pension system

China's population

China population timeline 1949-2022: how has a demographic crisis emerged?

Last year, China’s population fell by 850,000 to 1.4118 billion as mothers had 9.56 million babies last year, compared with 10.41 million total deaths. Photo: AP

Last year, China’s population fell by 850,000 to 1.4118 billion as mothers had 9.56 million babies last year, compared with 10.41 million total deaths. Photo: EPA-EFE

China population: wedding woes see annual unions nearly halved in past decade

Only 6.83 million couples got married in China last year, marking the ninth straight annual decline. Photo: AFP

Only 6.83 million couples got married in China last year, marking the ninth straight annual decline. Photo: Reuters

China population: demographer says lack of firstborn children, not second or third, is most pressing issue

Authorities throughout China are trying to get people to have children, but incentives differ greatly across different cities. Photo: Xinhua

Authorities throughout China are trying to get people to have children, but incentives differ greatly across different cities. Photo: AP

China population: re-employment of elderly an ‘urgent, realistic problem to be solved’

At the end of 2022, China had just over 280 million people aged over 60, accounting for 19.8 per cent of the population. Photo: AFP

Chinese increasingly put health, family above professional success after pandemic, survey shows

In the firm’s survey of 5,000 residents from 13 Asian markets, China placed in the top three in terms of confidence in healthy longevity, and Asians in general are doing more to prioritise family and health. Photo: Reuters

In the firm’s survey of 5,000 residents from 13 Asian markets, China placed in the top three in terms of confidence in healthy longevity, and Asians in general are doing more to prioritise family and health. Photo: AFP

China population: Beijing’s economic growth anxiety on show as mouthpiece focuses on demographics for 3 days

China’s overall population fell to 1.4118 billion last year, with the decline of 850,000 from 2021 marking its first decline in six decades. Photo: Reuters

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Last year, China’s population fell by 850,000 to 1.4118 billion as mothers had 9.56 million babies last year, compared with 10.41 million total deaths
This represented the first decline in China’s population since 1961 after China ended its one-child policy in 2016


China’s population fell for the first time since 1961 last year as deaths outweighed births six years after Beijing ended its one-child policy in a bid to avoid a looming demographic crisis.


China economy

China's ageing population

Provide background, definition and detail of a specific topic, helping the reader understand how something works or what has happened in the past.  (Eg. What is Nafta? US and Mexico are on the verge of revising trade deal.)


Explainer

Explainer | China population timeline 1949-2022: how has a demographic crisis emerged?

Last year, China’s population fell by 850,000 to 1.4118 billion as mothers had 9.56 million babies last year, compared with 10.41 million total deaths This represented the first decline in China’s population since 1961 after China ended its one-child policy in 2016

1949: Communist Party offers incentives

1953: First census

Last year, China’s population fell by 850,000 to 1.4118 billion as mothers had 9.56 million babies last year, compared with 10.41 million total deaths

This represented the first decline in China’s population since 1961 after China ended its one-child policy in 2016