The demographics of the world's most populous country is set to change as China will experience a negative growth after 2025, which will result in a shortage of consumer demand, a well-known Chinese economist has cautioned.

China's population is set to peak in just four years' time and the milestone will be marked by a significant downturn in consumer demand, said Cai Fang, a member of the monetary policy committee of the People's Bank of China, the central bank.

"When the total population enters negative growth (after 2025), there will be a shortage of demand," Mr Cai was quoted as saying by Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post on Sunday.

"We need to pay attention to the impact of demographics on future consumption," he said.

Mr Cai's comments came as China is due to release its latest census later this month.

According to a PBOC study released a few days ago, China should immediately liberalise its birth policies or face a scenario in which it has a lower share of workers and a higher burden of elderly care than the United States by 2050.

In a rare frank appraisal, four researchers from the PBOC said the country should not interfere with people's ability to have children or it will be too late to reverse the economic impact of a declining population.

Since 2016, Chinese couples have been allowed to have two children.

"We should not hesitate and wait for the effects of existing birth policies," the researchers said in a working paper published early this week.

"The birth liberalisation should happen now when there are some residents who still want to have children but can't. It's useless to liberalise it when no one wants to have children," it said.

After implementing the controversial one-child policy for over three decades, China is facing a demographic crisis with a rapidly ageing population over 60 years, which according to official figures, has increased to 420 million in 2019.

The two-child policy, which was implemented from 2016 failed to make an impact on the low birth rates as the number of newborns dropped by two million in 2018.

China as a whole saw 580,000 fewer new-borns in 2019 compared to 2018, marking the third consecutive year of decline since the implementation of the universal two-child policy in the mainland, according to official data.

According to China's statistics bureau, the country had a population of 1.34 billion in 2010 with an annual growth rate of 0.57 per cent, down from 1.07 per cent a decade earlier.

Mr Cai said the number of Chinese of working age had been in decline since 2010, which had mainly affected the supply side of the economy.

He said if people of working age were faced with the additional financial burden of looking after an elderly relative while trying to raise a family it would make them more likely to save than consume.

That would be bad news for the economy as the government has sought in recent years to drive growth through domestic consumption.

"The cost of childbearing, parenting and education are the biggest constraints on young couples," Mr Cai said.

"For the elderly, we need to increase their labour participation and social security benefits so that they can contribute to and share in the economic growth, while also maintaining consumer demand," he said.

The government should also do more to stimulate consumption among low-income groups that had a higher propensity for spending than the wealthy, he said.

The demographics of the world's most populous country is set to change as China will experience a negative growth after 2025, which will result in a shortage of consumer demand, a well-known Chinese economist has cautioned.

The demographics of the world's most populous country is set to change as China will experience a negative growth after 2025, which will result in a shortage of consumer demand, a well-known Chinese economist has cautioned. China's population is set to peak in just four years' time and the milestone will be marked by a significant downturn in consumer demand, said Cai Fang, a member of the monetary policy committee of the People's Bank of China, the central bank. "When the total population enters negative growth (after 2025), there will be a shortage of demand," Mr Cai was quoted as saying by Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post on Sunday. "We need to pay attention to the impact of demographics on future consumption," he said. Mr Cai's comments came as China is due to release its latest census later this month. According to a PBOC study released a few days ago, China should immediately liberalise its birth policies or face a scenario in which it has a lower share of workers and a higher burden of elderly care than the United States by 2050. In a rare frank appraisal, four researchers from the PBOC said the country should not interfere with people's ability to have children or it will be too late to reverse the economic impact of a declining population. Since 2016, Chinese couples have been allowed to have two children. "We should not hesitate and wait for the effects of existing birth policies," the researchers said in a working paper published early this week. "The birth liberalisation should happen now when there are some residents who still want to have children but can't. It's useless to liberalise it when no one wants to have children," it said. After implementing the controversial one-child policy for over three decades, China is facing a demographic crisis with a rapidly ageing population over 60 years, which according to official figures, has increased to 420 million in 2019. The two-child policy, which was implemented from 2016 failed to make an impact on the low birth rates as the number of newborns dropped by two million in 2018. China as a whole saw 580,000 fewer new-borns in 2019 compared to 2018, marking the third consecutive year of decline since the implementation of the universal two-child policy in the mainland, according to official data. According to China's statistics bureau, the country had a population of 1.34 billion in 2010 with an annual growth rate of 0.57 per cent, down from 1.07 per cent a decade earlier. Mr Cai said the number of Chinese of working age had been in decline since 2010, which had mainly affected the supply side of the economy. He said if people of working age were faced with the additional financial burden of looking after an elderly relative while trying to raise a family it would make them more likely to save than consume. That would be bad news for the economy as the government has sought in recent years to drive growth through domestic consumption. "The cost of childbearing, parenting and education are the biggest constraints on young couples," Mr Cai said. "For the elderly, we need to increase their labour participation and social security benefits so that they can contribute to and share in the economic growth, while also maintaining consumer demand," he said. The government should also do more to stimulate consumption among low-income groups that had a higher propensity for spending than the wealthy, he said.

China's population to enter negative growth after 2025: Report 

According to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-mission-a-team-of-experts-to-investigate-china-or-save-it-362509">China's</a> ministry of public security, the number of newborns in the country dropped by 15 per cent last year.

Watch:

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China saw 10.03 million births in 2020, compared to 11.79 million in 2019 highlighting&nbsp;the impact of coronavirus, which besides having disrupted economies and livelihoods, has also altered decisions of couples to start a family.

China's demographic issues could pose a serious threat to the world's second-largest economy when the current working-age population reaches retirement. Experts say that if the trend continues, or the population begins to shrink, China may get old before it gets rich.

China from 1979 to 2015 had followed the "one-child policy" limiting most couples to a single baby, as part of its attempt at controlling a rapidly growing population.&nbsp;

As a result of the policy, China's fertility rate fell dramatically and at the same time, the number of people over the age of 65 increased from 3.36 per cent in 1965 to almost 10 per cent in 2015, when the one-child policy was switched to allowing two children, however, the move hasn't resulted in a baby boom.

The government data further shows the gender balance was 52.7 per cent boys and 47.3 per cent girls.

According to recent data, about 20 per cent of Chinese citizens almost 250 million people are above the age of 60. The retired population in China is expected to reach 300 million by 2025.

According to China's ministry of public security, the number of newborns in the country dropped by 15 per cent last year. Watch: China saw 10.03 million births in 2020, compared to 11.

According to China's ministry of public security, the number of newborns in the country dropped by 15 per cent last year. Watch: China saw 10.03 million births in 2020, compared to 11.79 million in 2019 highlighting the impact of coronavirus, which besides having disrupted economies and livelihoods, has also altered decisions of couples to start a family. China's demographic issues could pose a serious threat to the world's second-largest economy when the current working-age population reaches retirement. Experts say that if the trend continues, or the population begins to shrink, China may get old before it gets rich. China from 1979 to 2015 had followed the "one-child policy" limiting most couples to a single baby, as part of its attempt at controlling a rapidly growing population. As a result of the policy, China's fertility rate fell dramatically and at the same time, the number of people over the age of 65 increased from 3.36 per cent in 1965 to almost 10 per cent in 2015, when the one-child policy was switched to allowing two children, however, the move hasn't resulted in a baby boom. The government data further shows the gender balance was 52.7 per cent boys and 47.3 per cent girls. According to recent data, about 20 per cent of Chinese citizens almost 250 million people are above the age of 60. The retired population in China is expected to reach 300 million by 2025.

China's birth rate falls in 2020 amid coronavirus pandemic

A demographic time bomb has become the latest worry of the Chinese regime with the elderly population in China increasing rapidly.

China's national pension fund is rapidly depleting and the fertility rates are at an all-time low as the country encourages couples to have more babies.

However, the Chinese workforce is getting smaller by the day. The Communist Party is mulling increasing the retirement age as a one-shot solution for all the problems but the idea has triggered outrage even before its implemented.

For more than four decades China's retirement age has remained unchanged - 60 years for men and 55 years for women civil servants &amp; white-collar workers but the Chinese regime is facing what experts call a "demographic time-bomb".

China's elderly population is increasing while its workforce is getting smaller by the day due to the now scrapped one-child policy. In 2018, nearly China's 250 million among 1.4 billion people were aged 60 or above. The figure is expected to increase to 300 million by 2025 and to 400 million by 2035.

The Chinese population is greying fast and postponing retirement is being seen as the only solution. The Communist Party has unveiled its plan to do it in a gradual manner, however, no specifics have been given but observers expect the retirement age to increase in at least the next 5 years.

The plan has already sparked outrage on Chinese social media. Chinese citizens say the decision will only adversely impact the health of the elderly and will not lead to any economic development but the fact is China is desperate.

There is another reason why it wants to postpone retirement. The national pension fund of China is running out of money. Businesses have either reduced their contribution or stopped contributing to provincial pension funds during the Wuhan virus pandemic.&nbsp;

Reports say the state pension fund could run dry by 2035. Those born in the 1980s could become the first generation in modern china to get no pension when they retire adding to the worries is the rapidly declining fertility rate in China.

In 2019, the number of newborns in China fell to 14.6 million - a decrease of 580,000 from 2018 and this year China's birth-rate dropped to the lowest level since 1949. The number of births per 1,000 people declined to 10 which is the lowest level on record.

The options before the Chinese regime is limited with the demographic time bomb ticking making the elderly work for longer seems to be the only way out.

A demographic time bomb has become the latest worry of the Chinese regime with the elderly population in China increasing rapidly. China's national pension fund is rapidly depleting and the fertility rates are at an all-time low as the country encourages couples to have more babies.

A demographic time bomb has become the latest worry of the Chinese regime with the elderly population in China increasing rapidly. China's national pension fund is rapidly depleting and the fertility rates are at an all-time low as the country encourages couples to have more babies. However, the Chinese workforce is getting smaller by the day. The Communist Party is mulling increasing the retirement age as a one-shot solution for all the problems but the idea has triggered outrage even before its implemented. For more than four decades China's retirement age has remained unchanged - 60 years for men and 55 years for women civil servants & white-collar workers but the Chinese regime is facing what experts call a "demographic time-bomb". China's elderly population is increasing while its workforce is getting smaller by the day due to the now scrapped one-child policy. In 2018, nearly China's 250 million among 1.4 billion people were aged 60 or above. The figure is expected to increase to 300 million by 2025 and to 400 million by 2035. The Chinese population is greying fast and postponing retirement is being seen as the only solution. The Communist Party has unveiled its plan to do it in a gradual manner, however, no specifics have been given but observers expect the retirement age to increase in at least the next 5 years. The plan has already sparked outrage on Chinese social media. Chinese citizens say the decision will only adversely impact the health of the elderly and will not lead to any economic development but the fact is China is desperate. There is another reason why it wants to postpone retirement. The national pension fund of China is running out of money. Businesses have either reduced their contribution or stopped contributing to provincial pension funds during the Wuhan virus pandemic. Reports say the state pension fund could run dry by 2035. Those born in the 1980s could become the first generation in modern china to get no pension when they retire adding to the worries is the rapidly declining fertility rate in China. In 2019, the number of newborns in China fell to 14.6 million - a decrease of 580,000 from 2018 and this year China's birth-rate dropped to the lowest level since 1949. The number of births per 1,000 people declined to 10 which is the lowest level on record. The options before the Chinese regime is limited with the demographic time bomb ticking making the elderly work for longer seems to be the only way out.

China mulls increasing retirement age as demographic time bomb ticks

Millions of census-takers began knocking on doors across China on Sunday for a once-a-decade head count of the world's largest population that for the first time will use mobile apps to help crunch the massive numbers.

Around seven million community workers and volunteers will drive the two-month data-collection effort, visiting homes ranging from residential skyscrapers in downtown Shanghai to remote Tibetan mountain villages.

China conducts the census every ten years to determine population growth, movement patterns and other trends, using the findings to apportion resources for education, health, transportation, labour, elderly care and other services.

The previous tally in 2010 counted 1,339,724,852 persons, an increase of 5.83 percent, or 73,899,804 people -- equal to adding more than the population of France over 10 years.

Much of the attention on this year's census -- expected to take two years to fully compile -- will focus on whether it indicates any population bump from China's relaxation of its former "one-child policy".

The policy was introduced in the late 1970s to slow rapid population growth amid concerns over too many mouths to feed, but was relaxed four years ago to allow two children due to fears over China's fast-ageing society and shrinking workforce.

But the change has not yet resulted in a baby boom.

The national birth rate last year was the slowest since the founding of Communist-ruled China in 1949, with many Chinese today choosing smaller families amid rising living costs.

The government estimates the 2020 census could update the population to 1.42 billion, a 5.99 percent increase.

A research institute affiliated with real estate giant Evergrande Group last week issued a study saying the government figure was an overestimate, and recommended that&nbsp;three children be allowed.

"If adjustments are not made, it will seriously affect national rejuvenation and (China's) rise as a great power," the researchers said, citing two of the stated goals of powerful President Xi Jinping.

- 'Big Brother' fears -

The study sparked a passionate online discussion, with many saying the real curbs on childbirth are rising costs and insufficient policy support for families.

"Even a ten-child policy is useless until we create a society that is childbirth-friendly and childrearing-friendly," said one widely "liked" comment on the WeChat platform of Chinese internet giant Tencent.

Demographic experts have estimated it could take 15 years for the two-child policy to have any noticeable effect as other modern factors mitigate against rapid growth, including increasingly empowered Chinese women delaying or avoiding childbirth, and the slower population growth that comes with rising national affluence.

Despite the door-to-door visits, most citizens are expected to enter their information via a smartphone app, adding to rising concerns about privacy protection.

Vast amounts of Chinese economic activity and payments are handled through digital apps such as WeChat and its rival Alipay, offered by Alibaba-affiliated Ant Group.

Many consumers accept the resulting surrender of data on their buying habits, travel, and other personal information as a small price to pay for digital conveniences.&nbsp;

But others increasingly worry over privacy and data security, heightened further this year with China's introduction of a nationwide system of digital "health codes" that score citizens on whether they pose a potential coronavirus threat and which must be shown to enter many public venues.

The National Statistics Bureau, which oversees the census, vowed in May that all personal data gathered during the process will be kept strictly confidential and used for no other purpose than the census.

The government in mid-October also separately unveiled a draft personal data protection law, which outlines stiff punishments for violators.&nbsp;

Millions of census-takers began knocking on doors across China on Sunday for a once-a-decade head count of the world's largest population that for the first time will use mobile apps to help crunch the massive numbers.

Millions of census-takers began knocking on doors across China on Sunday for a once-a-decade head count of the world's largest population that for the first time will use mobile apps to help crunch the massive numbers. Around seven million community workers and volunteers will drive the two-month data-collection effort, visiting homes ranging from residential skyscrapers in downtown Shanghai to remote Tibetan mountain villages. China conducts the census every ten years to determine population growth, movement patterns and other trends, using the findings to apportion resources for education, health, transportation, labour, elderly care and other services. The previous tally in 2010 counted 1,339,724,852 persons, an increase of 5.83 percent, or 73,899,804 people -- equal to adding more than the population of France over 10 years. Much of the attention on this year's census -- expected to take two years to fully compile -- will focus on whether it indicates any population bump from China's relaxation of its former "one-child policy". The policy was introduced in the late 1970s to slow rapid population growth amid concerns over too many mouths to feed, but was relaxed four years ago to allow two children due to fears over China's fast-ageing society and shrinking workforce. But the change has not yet resulted in a baby boom. The national birth rate last year was the slowest since the founding of Communist-ruled China in 1949, with many Chinese today choosing smaller families amid rising living costs. The government estimates the 2020 census could update the population to 1.42 billion, a 5.99 percent increase. A research institute affiliated with real estate giant Evergrande Group last week issued a study saying the government figure was an overestimate, and recommended that three children be allowed. "If adjustments are not made, it will seriously affect national rejuvenation and (China's) rise as a great power," the researchers said, citing two of the stated goals of powerful President Xi Jinping. - 'Big Brother' fears - The study sparked a passionate online discussion, with many saying the real curbs on childbirth are rising costs and insufficient policy support for families. "Even a ten-child policy is useless until we create a society that is childbirth-friendly and childrearing-friendly," said one widely "liked" comment on the WeChat platform of Chinese internet giant Tencent. Demographic experts have estimated it could take 15 years for the two-child policy to have any noticeable effect as other modern factors mitigate against rapid growth, including increasingly empowered Chinese women delaying or avoiding childbirth, and the slower population growth that comes with rising national affluence. Despite the door-to-door visits, most citizens are expected to enter their information via a smartphone app, adding to rising concerns about privacy protection. Vast amounts of Chinese economic activity and payments are handled through digital apps such as WeChat and its rival Alipay, offered by Alibaba-affiliated Ant Group. Many consumers accept the resulting surrender of data on their buying habits, travel, and other personal information as a small price to pay for digital conveniences. But others increasingly worry over privacy and data security, heightened further this year with China's introduction of a nationwide system of digital "health codes" that score citizens on whether they pose a potential coronavirus threat and which must be shown to enter many public venues. The National Statistics Bureau, which oversees the census, vowed in May that all personal data gathered during the process will be kept strictly confidential and used for no other purpose than the census. The government in mid-October also separately unveiled a draft personal data protection law, which outlines stiff punishments for violators.

China starts once-a-decade census of world's largest population

China has eased its two-child limit policy over concerns of the aging population and a decline in the birth rate.

In the event that current patterns proceed, China's population&nbsp;will top at 1.44 billion out of 2029 preceding entering "relentless" decrease, as indicated by a Chinese Academy of Social Sciences study released in January.&nbsp;

The nation will enter a "time of negative populace development," the report says, cautioning that by 2065 numbers will re-visitation the degrees of the mid-1990s.&nbsp;

<img alt="China " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a2c4d766-cbdf-46b2-a650-6ab26c5836fa" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2872%29_4.jpg" />

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

The proportion of youth to old will be drastically imbalanced by the rising positions of the old, putting a remarkable load on the ties that hold society together.&nbsp;

The size of the issue is incomplete because of the tradition of the one-kid strategy: history's greatest social-designing examination.

However,&nbsp;China's quickly maturing populace could require the deserting of the nation's two-youngster strategy as retired people will require more kids to take care of them, specialists have cautioned.&nbsp;

It has been anticipated that the nation might have 300 million individuals matured at least 60 of every five years, up from 254 million a year ago.&nbsp;

"We will end up being a decently maturing society from a softly maturing society," Li Banghua, agent head of senior administrations at the service of common issues, said.

"Guardians of the nation's original of just kids will turn out to be older in five to ten years, and we will see a rush of requests for senior consideration."&nbsp;

The service has spread out designs to prepare 10,000 consideration home chiefs and 100,000 social laborers for the older.

China has eased its two-child limit policy over concerns of the aging population and a decline in the birth rate. In the event that current patterns proceed, China's population will top at 1.

China has eased its two-child limit policy over concerns of the aging population and a decline in the birth rate. In the event that current patterns proceed, China's population will top at 1.44 billion out of 2029 preceding entering "relentless" decrease, as indicated by a Chinese Academy of Social Sciences study released in January. The nation will enter a "time of negative populace development," the report says, cautioning that by 2065 numbers will re-visitation the degrees of the mid-1990s. Source: National Bureau of Statistics The proportion of youth to old will be drastically imbalanced by the rising positions of the old, putting a remarkable load on the ties that hold society together. The size of the issue is incomplete because of the tradition of the one-kid strategy: history's greatest social-designing examination. However, China's quickly maturing populace could require the deserting of the nation's two-youngster strategy as retired people will require more kids to take care of them, specialists have cautioned. It has been anticipated that the nation might have 300 million individuals matured at least 60 of every five years, up from 254 million a year ago. "We will end up being a decently maturing society from a softly maturing society," Li Banghua, agent head of senior administrations at the service of common issues, said. "Guardians of the nation's original of just kids will turn out to be older in five to ten years, and we will see a rush of requests for senior consideration." The service has spread out designs to prepare 10,000 consideration home chiefs and 100,000 social laborers for the older.

China relaxes two-child limit policy over concerns of aging population and decline in birth rate

China, world's most populous country, will launch its seventh national census on November 1.

According to state-run news agency Xinhua, China will mobilise as many as 7 million census workers in the colossal undertaking -- collecting names, ID numbers, gender, marital details, as well as education and professional information.

Citizens will also be encouraged to use cell phones and other digital tools "to declare personal and family information," Xinhua reported.

China conducts a national census every 10 years. The last survey found the population had increased from 1.29 billion to 1.37 billion.

Last year, the country's birthrate hit its lowest level since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949.

This year, the coronavirus and related restrictions are expected to pose concerns for the movement of census workers. However, Chinese virus numbers have been very low in recent weeks, with no new domestic infections reported Sunday, and just 12 imported cases.

Meanwhile, India is set to overtake China as the world's most populous country.

India was due to begin its own census counting earlier this year but had to delay operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

China, world's most populous country, will launch its seventh national census on November 1. According to state-run news agency Xinhua, China will mobilise as many as 7 million census workers in the colossal undertaking -- collecting names, ID numbers, gender, marital details, as well as education and professional information.

China, world's most populous country, will launch its seventh national census on November 1. According to state-run news agency Xinhua, China will mobilise as many as 7 million census workers in the colossal undertaking -- collecting names, ID numbers, gender, marital details, as well as education and professional information. Citizens will also be encouraged to use cell phones and other digital tools "to declare personal and family information," Xinhua reported. China conducts a national census every 10 years. The last survey found the population had increased from 1.29 billion to 1.37 billion. Last year, the country's birthrate hit its lowest level since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949. This year, the coronavirus and related restrictions are expected to pose concerns for the movement of census workers. However, Chinese virus numbers have been very low in recent weeks, with no new domestic infections reported Sunday, and just 12 imported cases. Meanwhile, India is set to overtake China as the world's most populous country. India was due to begin its own census counting earlier this year but had to delay operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

China prepares to count over 1.3 billion people amid coronavirus pandemic

China’s population is set to reach a peak of 1.442 billion in 2029 and start a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/after-peak-in-2029-chinas-population-to-experience-continuous-negative-growth-study-188299">long period of “unstoppable” decline in 2030</a>, government scholars said in a research report published on Friday.

The world’s most populous country must now draw up policies to try to cope with a declining labour force and a rapidly ageing population, according to the summary of the latest edition of the “Green Book of Population and Labor” published by the China Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

Growth in the working population had now stagnated, the report said, and the rising number of elderly people will have a far-reaching impact on the social and economic development in the country, especially if fertility rates remain low.

“From a theoretical point of view, the long-term population decline, especially when it is accompanied by a continuously ageing population, is bound to cause very unfavourable social and economic consequences,” it said.

China’s population is expected to fall back to 1.36 billion by the middle of the century, it said, which could mean a decline in the workforce of as much as 200 million. If fertility rates remain unchanged, the population could fall to 1.17 billion by 2065, it said.

China decided in 2016 to relax a controversial “one-child policy” aimed at curbing population growth and allow all couples to have two children. However, the country’s birth rate still fell 3.5 per cent in 2017 and is expected to have fallen again last year.

China’s “dependency rate” - or the proportion of non-working people, including children and the elderly, in the total population - rose for the first time in more than 30 years in 2011, and is widely predicted to increase further for at least the next few decades.

The proportion of retirees is projected to rise until 2060, the CASS report said, and while the decision to relax “one-child” rules was designed to rebalance China’s age structure, in the short term it will also lead to a greater dependency rate.

According to previous forecasts, China’s elderly population is expected to reach 400 million by the end of 2035, up from around 240 million last year.

China’s population is set to reach a peak of 1.442 billion in 2029 and start a long period of “unstoppable” decline in 2030, government scholars said in a research report published on Friday.

China’s population is set to reach a peak of 1.442 billion in 2029 and start a long period of “unstoppable” decline in 2030, government scholars said in a research report published on Friday. The world’s most populous country must now draw up policies to try to cope with a declining labour force and a rapidly ageing population, according to the summary of the latest edition of the “Green Book of Population and Labor” published by the China Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). Growth in the working population had now stagnated, the report said, and the rising number of elderly people will have a far-reaching impact on the social and economic development in the country, especially if fertility rates remain low. “From a theoretical point of view, the long-term population decline, especially when it is accompanied by a continuously ageing population, is bound to cause very unfavourable social and economic consequences,” it said. China’s population is expected to fall back to 1.36 billion by the middle of the century, it said, which could mean a decline in the workforce of as much as 200 million. If fertility rates remain unchanged, the population could fall to 1.17 billion by 2065, it said. China decided in 2016 to relax a controversial “one-child policy” aimed at curbing population growth and allow all couples to have two children. However, the country’s birth rate still fell 3.5 per cent in 2017 and is expected to have fallen again last year. China’s “dependency rate” - or the proportion of non-working people, including children and the elderly, in the total population - rose for the first time in more than 30 years in 2011, and is widely predicted to increase further for at least the next few decades. The proportion of retirees is projected to rise until 2060, the CASS report said, and while the decision to relax “one-child” rules was designed to rebalance China’s age structure, in the short term it will also lead to a greater dependency rate. According to previous forecasts, China’s elderly population is expected to reach 400 million by the end of 2035, up from around 240 million last year.

China's population set to peak at 1.44 billion in 2029: Government report

China's population, the world's largest, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-population-would-be-65-pc-of-indias-by-2050-due-to-low-fertility-trap-expert-150527">is expected to experience continuous</a> negative growth from 2030 after reaching a peak of 1.44 billion in 2029, a leading Chinese think-tank has said.

The country's population is expected <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-accounts-for-1774-of-7-billion-world-population-150910">to shrink to 1.36 billion in 2050</a>, and 1.25 billion in 2065, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has said.

The study has also warned that if the total fertility rate, which means the number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime, remains at 1.6, negative population growth is likely in 2027 with a potential total population of 1.17 billion, which is equivalent to the year 1990, according to media reports.&nbsp;

The World Bank estimated that after 1996, China's fertility rate was lower than 1.6, rising back up to 1.6 in 2013 and 1.62 in 2016.&nbsp;

The report noted that if China could maintain this momentum in growth, China's fertility rate would return to a relatively safe level, the People's Daily reported.

The report came after Chinese demographers said China's three-year-old two child policy failed to make any impact on the low birth rate as the number of new-borns dropped by two million last year and the decline was expected to continue.

Chinese demographers said that the number of new-borns in 2018, the third year after the country has fully implemented the two-child policy, may have dropped by more than two million and the country's birth population will continue to fall, state-run Global Times reported.&nbsp;

"Although the national data for the birth of new-borns have not been publicised yet, data revealed by local health departments showed that the number of new-borns in 2018 decreased by at least 15 per cent from the previous year," He Yafu, a demographer and author of a book on the impact of China's population policy, was quoted as saying by the paper.

"The birth population in 2017 was 17.23 million. Based on current calculations, the number of new-borns across the nation might drop by more than two million," He said.

China ended its decades-old one-child policy in 2016 and permitted couples to have two children as the population of elderly rose with declining numbers of young people.

In August, the official media said China's rapidly ageing population has touched 241 million, accounting for one-fifth of the over 1.4 billion people in the world's most populous country.

Recent reports said China plans to completely abandon the birth control policy to encourage people to have more children. 
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China's population, the world's largest, is expected to experience continuous negative growth from 2030 after reaching a peak of 1.44 billion in 2029, a leading Chinese think-tank has said.

China's population, the world's largest, is expected to experience continuous negative growth from 2030 after reaching a peak of 1.44 billion in 2029, a leading Chinese think-tank has said. The country's population is expected to shrink to 1.36 billion in 2050, and 1.25 billion in 2065, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has said. The study has also warned that if the total fertility rate, which means the number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime, remains at 1.6, negative population growth is likely in 2027 with a potential total population of 1.17 billion, which is equivalent to the year 1990, according to media reports. The World Bank estimated that after 1996, China's fertility rate was lower than 1.6, rising back up to 1.6 in 2013 and 1.62 in 2016. The report noted that if China could maintain this momentum in growth, China's fertility rate would return to a relatively safe level, the People's Daily reported. The report came after Chinese demographers said China's three-year-old two child policy failed to make any impact on the low birth rate as the number of new-borns dropped by two million last year and the decline was expected to continue. Chinese demographers said that the number of new-borns in 2018, the third year after the country has fully implemented the two-child policy, may have dropped by more than two million and the country's birth population will continue to fall, state-run Global Times reported. "Although the national data for the birth of new-borns have not been publicised yet, data revealed by local health departments showed that the number of new-borns in 2018 decreased by at least 15 per cent from the previous year," He Yafu, a demographer and author of a book on the impact of China's population policy, was quoted as saying by the paper. "The birth population in 2017 was 17.23 million. Based on current calculations, the number of new-borns across the nation might drop by more than two million," He said. China ended its decades-old one-child policy in 2016 and permitted couples to have two children as the population of elderly rose with declining numbers of young people. In August, the official media said China's rapidly ageing population has touched 241 million, accounting for one-fifth of the over 1.4 billion people in the world's most populous country. Recent reports said China plans to completely abandon the birth control policy to encourage people to have more children.

After peak in 2029, China's population to experience continuous negative growth: Study