China to hold nationwide survey on population changes in November

HONG KONG: As authorities struggle to increase China’s declining birth rate, the National Bureau of Statistics may conduct a nationwide trial study in November to help better prepare community policies.

Beijing is immediately attempting a variety of measures to increase China’s birth rate, including financial incentives and expanding childcare facilities, due to concerns about the country experiencing its first population decline in 60 years and its rapid aging.

According to state media reports released on Tuesday, October 10, the study’s rely on population changes will be on urban and rural areas across the nation.

According to the chest, the plan will assist in” effectively and fast monitoring China’s populace developmental changes and provide a foundation for the Communist Party and the government to develop national economic, social development, and population-related guidelines.”

China past conducted its once-in-a-decade population in November 2020, revealing that it expanded at the slowest rate since the 1950s, when the first modern people survey was conducted. It was not specified how many people would get surveyed.

Beginning on November 1, a government observing company may visit households to gather the data or ask respondents to complete the survey online.

Despite the declining birth rate and widespread worries among residents about the challenges of raising children, population growth has frequently been linked to the power and” regeneration” of the nation in state media.

Some people have been discouraged from having more children or any kids at all by great care expenses and having to stop their jobs. In the entire nation, there is still a lot of sex discrimination and outdated perceptions of women raising children.

Although paternity leave is also restricted in the majority of provinces, authorities have recently increased language on sharing the responsibility of child rearing.

The nation experienced its first reduction since 1961, the final year of China’s Great Famine, when it reported a community reduction of about 850, 000 persons for 1.41 billion people in 2022.