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China’s population falls for third year in a row amid birthrate decline
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By Francesca Hangeior.
China said on Friday its population fell for the third year running in 2024, extending a downward streak after more than six decades of growth as the country faces a rapidly ageing population and persistently low birth rates.
Once the world’s most populous country, China was overtaken by India in 2023, with Beijing seeking to boost falling birth rates through subsidies and pro-fertility propaganda.
The population stood at 1.408 billion by the end of the year, Beijing’s National Bureau of Statistics said, down from 1.410 billion in 2023.
The decline was less sharp than the previous year, when it was more than double the fall reported for 2022, data showed.
China ended its strict “one-child policy”, imposed in the 1980s over overpopulation fears, in 2016 and started letting couples have three children in 2021.
But that has failed to reverse the demographic decline for a country that has long relied on its vast workforce as a driver of economic growth.
Many say falling birth rates are due to the soaring cost of living, as well as the growing number of women going into the workforce and seeking higher education.
Population decline is likely to continue due to gloomy economic prospects for young people and as Chinese women “confront entrenched labour market gender discriminations”, Yun Zhou, a sociologist at the University of Michigan, told AFP.
People over 60 are expected to make up nearly a third of China’s population by 2035, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, a research group.
Data released on Friday showed that the population aged 60 and over reached 310.31 million — just a few percentage points short of a quarter of the country and an increase from nearly 297 million recorded in 2023.
However, the data also showed China’s birth rate — among the lowest in the world — ticked up slightly from the previous year to 6.77 per 1,000 people.
“This uptick is unlikely to last, as the population of childbearing-age women is projected to decline sharply in the coming decades,” said Zhao Litao, a senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s East Asian Institute.
“In the long term, the trends of declining births, overall population contraction, and rapid ageing remain unchanged.”
He Yafu, an independent demographer in China, put the uptick in births down to women who deferred having children during the Covid-19 pandemic giving birth. There was also an increase in marriages in 2023 and 2024, the auspicious Year of the Dragon.
However, “the general trend of total population decline won’t change”, He told newsmen.
“Unless strong policies to encourage childbirth are introduced… the proportion of the elderly population will continue to rise.”
Officials said in September they would gradually raise the statutory retirement age, which was set at 60 and among the lowest in the world. It had not been raised for decades.
China’s previous retirement age was set at a time of widespread scarcity and impoverishment, before market reforms brought comparative wealth and rapid improvements in nutrition, health and living conditions.
The world’s second-largest economy now has to contend with slowing growth, while a fast-greying population and a baby bust have piled pressure on pension and public health systems.
News
We’re using 31 days to commission projects in FCT to mark Tinubu’s 3rd year anniversary – Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced an unprecedented 31-day marathon project commissionings across the nation’s capital to celebrate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third anniversary in office.
Speaking at a political luncheon in Port Harcourt, the Minister showcased the administrative landmark achievements under his watch, attributing the massive infrastructural development to the strategic backing and vision of the President.
According to Wike, the month-long commissioning circuit will feature major road networks, public utilities, and massive urban renewal projects designed to completely reshape the nation’s capital.
Brushing aside critics, the Minister issued a direct challenge regarding the scale and quality of his administration’s output in the FCT.
”This third year of Mr. President alone…, we are taking 31 days for commissioning of projects in Abuja. I’m not talking about boreholes. I challenge anybody to contradict this” Wike stated.
He emphasized that the rapid development unfolding in Abuja is a direct testament to purposeful leadership, throwing down a challenge to opposition figures to match the scale of the ongoing works.
While highlighting his milestones in the FCT, the former Rivers State Governor pivoted to a surprisingly reconciliatory tone regarding the intense political friction in his home state, offering a blanket pardon to all political opponents.
”I use this opportunity today, to announce that I have forgiven everybody,” Wike declared, stressing that prolonged political warfare serves no constructive purpose.
”I want you to come back home sincerely… We have played politics, we have abused ourselves, this is the right time for you to come back,” he added, urging estranged allies and adversaries alike to swallow their pride and return to a unified fold.
Despite the sweeping offer of peace, the Minister did not mince words regarding the resilience of his political structure back home, which he described as an invincible “rainbow coalition.”
Wike issued strong warnings and assertions regarding the political landscape.
He explicitly warned external forces against attempting to destabilize Rivers State, stating, “Anybody from another state who is trying to destroy Rivers State, the person will have problems… You put your hand, you get fire.”
He asserted that his political machinery has effectively locked down future electoral cycles.
“If you are talking about the governorship election in this state, forget it, it’s gone… If you are thinking that any miracle will happen to overturn, to pull the rug off us, it’s a lie,” he stated.
Reassuring his supporters of their strategic dominance, he noted, “We are very over-alerted anytime, any day. We’ll take you back, we’ll work with everybody. We are not selfish.”
While other states grapple with internal party crises and bitter conflicts within both the PDP and APC, Wike maintained that his political coalition remained secured and fully prepared to maintain its dominance for the next eight years and beyond.
News
Watch: FCT minister Wike promises Tinubu’s third admin will showcase commissioning of projects in 31 days
The Federal Capital Territory FCT minister Nyesom Wike has promised that President Bola Tinubu’s third anniversary would showcase commissioning of projects in Abuja for 31 days.
Speaking at the Rainbow Coalition Renewed Hope Luncheon, the ‘talk and do” minister vowed that for 31 days projects will be commissioned across the Territory to mark Tinubu’s third anniversary in office.
He said: “We’re using 31 days to commission projects in the FCT to mark President Tinubu’s third-year anniversary in office.
He announced plans for next month, after using 9 days in year 1 and 19 days in year 2.
Video courtesy of TVC
WATCH:
News
There was No Election in Idemili North/South Federal Constituency, Says Ikokwu – Petitions NDC Election Appeal Panel
Aspirant for Idemili North and South Federal Constituency Dr. Chiogo Constance Ikokwu (Ugonecheora) says no real primary election took place in the constituency on the 29th of May, and has asked the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Election Appeal Panel not to declare a winner, and to immediately investigate the roles played by opposing candidates and their supporters in disrupting the process.
“I respectfully call on the Election Panel to immediately investigate the roles played by unruly candidates, their agents, and supporters in the disruption of the process. I further urge the panel to take disciplinary action against any individual found culpable in sponsoring violence, intimidation, or acts capable of undermining the party’s democratic process.
“I also call for a thorough investigation into the role played by individuals and officials saddled with the responsibility of organizing and coordinating the election, whose apparent failure, negligence, or inability to properly manage the process significantly contributed to the confusion, disorder, and eventual collapse of the exercise.
“I demand that the failed exercise be declared inconclusive. Mr. Eric Anyamene should not be declared winner. Hon. Uche Okonkwo should also not be declared winner.
“It will be a fraudulent choice if the NDC names either Mr. Anyamene or Hon. Okonkwo as winner for Idemili North and South Federal Constituency because the party would have chosen them through brazen criminal acts contrary to natural justice, equity and good conscience. No direct primary election took place in Idemili North and South Federal Constituency to enable members to choose their representative by popular votes.”
Background
From the onset, there was widespread confusion over the designated venue for Idemili South, which was a deliberate act of sabotage. Party members, delegates, and supporters were subjected to conflicting information, leaving many uncertain about where the election was to take place. When the designated venue was located, the absence of proper coordination, accreditation, and supervision compounded the disorder, preventing the exercise from taking place.
The situation deteriorated when rival supporters and suspected thugs loyal to both Hon. Okonkwo and Mr. Anyamene engaged in violent activities, creating panic, and forcing many party members to flee for their safety. Specifically, Mr. Anyamene’s unruly supporters recorded a video of random voters in the South while chanting “Eric is winning, Eric is winning,” and there was no election going on. His thugs clashed with other thugs, resulting in an atmosphere of intimidation and insecurity, which rendered the environment in Idemili South unsuitable for the conduct of a free, fair, and credible election.
Dr. Ikokwu’s supporters who had waited from as early as 10:00 a.m., were unable to cast their votes before the exercise collapsed around 1.30pm. In the North, the story was the same. Mr. Anyamene dominated with hired goons that caused mayhem at the election ground. Dr. Ikokwu’s poster was torn to pieces by Anyamene’s thugs over there.
End
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