China’s population falls again as births drop 17% decade after 1-child policy ended

Key Highlights

• At least, that is what population figures released Monday show for what is now the world’s second-most populous nation.
• China’s population of 1.4 billion continued to shrink, marking the fourth straight year of decrease, new government statistics show.
• The total population in 2025 stood at 1.404 billion, which was 3 million less than the previous year.
• The statistics illustrate the stark demographic pressures the country faces.
• The number of new babies born was just 7.92 million in 2025, a decline of 1.62 million, or 17%.