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Andrew Mullen

What is China’s population?
Mainland China’s population increased by less than half a million last year, while the number of births also dropped for the fifth consecutive year.
China’s overall population increased by around 480,000 people – to 1.4126 billion in 2021, from 1.412 billion a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) confirmed.
The population includes China’s 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, as well as servicemen, but excludes foreigners. It does not include Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan.
China’s population by decade (2010-2021)




Year
Population (in billions)




2010
1.34


2011
1.3474


2012
1.354


2013
1.3607


2014
1.3678


2015
1.3746


2016
1.3827


2017
1.3901


2018
1.3954


2019
1.4001


2020
1412


2021
1.4126




Source: National Bureau of Statistics
Chinese mothers gave birth to 10.62 million babies last year, an 11.5 per cent drop from 12 million in 2020.
The national birth rate fell to a record low of 7.52 births for every 1,000 people in 2021, from 8.52 in 2020.
The national death rate was 7.18 per thousand last year, putting the national growth rate at 0.34 per thousand after 10.14 million people died in China last year.
What else did the population data show?
Additional demographic figures showed a year-on-year increase of 12.05 million permanent residents in urban areas, to 914.25 million.
Meanwhile, there was a 11.57 million decrease in rural permanent residents, to 498.35 million.
China’s so-called floating population, featuring mostly migrant workers, reached 384.67 million in 2021, 8.85 million more than in 2020.
The population living in areas other than where they hold household registration, for at least six months, reached 504.29 million, or 11.53 million more than in 2020.




In gender terms, the male population was 723.11 million, and the female population was 689.49 million.
China’s working age population defined as those aged between 16 to 59 was 882.22 million, accounting for 62.5 per cent of the total population.
The population aged 60 and over was 267.36 million, accounting for 18.9 per cent of the total population.
The population aged 65 and over was 200.56 million, accounting for 14.2 per cent of the total population.
Is the population data a concern?
“The most shocking part of the data release is that the natural growth of the population has dropped to 0.34 per thousand, the first time below 1.0 since data become available,” said Zhang Zhiwei, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management.
“The demographic challenge is well known, but the speed of population ageing is clearly faster than expected.
“This suggests China’s total population may have reached its peak in 2021. It also indicates China’s potential growth is likely slowing faster than expected.”
Chen Wei, a professor with the Population Development Studies Centre at Renmin University, said: “In the next 10 to 20 years, China’s natural population growth will not continue to decline, but will fluctuate around zero and see small drops, but there will not be rapid decreases.”
A decrease in household income, in addition to the uncertainties that the pandemic has added to the future, further lowered young people’s willingness to give birth
He Yafu
At the start of 2021, Henan province, the country’s third-most-populous administrative region, reported that its number of newborns fell to 920,000 in 2020 – a 23.3 per cent decline from 2019 – as the provincial birth rate dropped to 9.24 births per 1,000 people.
“The pandemic has caused some people to lose their jobs or suffer pay cuts,” said He Yafu, an independent demographer.
“A decrease in household income, in addition to the uncertainties that the pandemic has added to the future, further lowered young people’s willingness to give birth.”
Is China heading towards a demographic turning point?
Experts have warned that a demographic turning point may be just around the corner in the world’s most populous nation, and some have said that it threatens to erode the foundation of China’s booming economic growth over the past 40 years.
Beijing has already taken steps to curb the trend, such as by allowing couples to have a third child and by trying to reduce abortions for “non-medical” purposes.
What was China’s one-child policy and why was it so controversial?
Dozens of provincial and municipal authorities have also introduced their own initiatives to bump up fertility.
These include giving parents more days off work, or even financial support, for having a second or third child.
What is the outlook for China’s population?
“China’s total population will remain above 1.4 billion for a period of time to come,” said Ning Jizhe, deputy head of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, the nation’s top economic planner.
He added that the three-child policy is expected to gradually add births, while the national life expectancy is gradually increasing.


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China population: is a demographic turning point just around the corner as births drop again?

Mainland China’s overall population increased to 1.4126 billion in 2021 as Chinese mothers gave birth to just 10.62 million babies last year. Photo: AP

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Mothers in China gave birth to just 10.62 million babies last year, an 11.5 per cent drop from 2020, which contributed to an overall population increase of just 480,000. Photo: AFP

China’s working aged population aged between 16 and 59 last year stood at 882.22 million, representing 62.5 per cent of the population. Photo: Xinhua

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Chinese mothers had just 10.62 million babies last year, as the national birth rate fell to a record-low 7.52 per 1,000 people. Photo: Getty Images

China’s population up less than half a million in 2021, births plunge again as crisis deepens

China’s overall population increased by 480,000 in 2021, the National Bureau of Statistics confirmed. Photo: Getty Images

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Ren Zeping has been banned from posting on Weibo. Photo: Weibo 

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Prominent economist Ren Zeping has presented a controversial solution to China’s low birth rate and rapidly ageing population. Photo: Weibo

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Mainland China’s overall population increased to 1.4126 billion in 2021, but the national growth rate hit a record low of just 0.34 per thousand
Chinese mothers gave birth to 10.62 million babies last year, an 11.5 per cent drop from 12 million in 2020



Mainland China’s overall population increased to 1.4126 billion in 2021, but Chinese mothers gave birth to just 10.62 million babies last year.


China's ageing population

China’s population policy

China economy

China census and demographics 2021

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Explainer

Year	Population (in billions)
2010	1.34
2011	1.3474
2012	1.354
2013	1.3607
2014	1.3678
2015	1.3746
2016	1.3827
2017	1.3901
2018	1.3954
2019	1.4001
2020	1412
2021	1.4126

Explainer | China population: is a demographic turning point just around the corner as births drop again?

Mainland China’s overall population increased to 1.4126 billion in 2021, but the national growth rate hit a record low of just 0.34 per thousand Chinese mothers gave birth to 10.62 million babies last year, an 11.5 per cent drop from 12 million in 2020

What is China’s population?

Mainland China’s overall population increased to 1.4126 billion in 2021, but the national growth rate hit a record low of just 0.34 per thousand

Chinese mothers gave birth to 10.62 million babies last year, an 11.5 per cent drop from 12 million in 2020