02:14
Chinese reluctant to have children as China reports first population fall in 61 years
Explainer | China population timeline 1949-2022: how has a demographic crisis emerged?
- Last year, China’s population fell by 850,000 to 1.4118 billion as mothers had 9.56 million babies last year, compared with 10.41 million total deaths
- This represented the first decline in China’s population since 1961 after China ended its one-child policy in 2016
1949: Communist Party offers incentives
Communist Party comes to power and promotes growth and offers financial incentives for families with more children.
(Population 541.67 million)
1953: First census
China conducts its first population census.
(Population 587.96 million)
1961: ‘Great Famine’
The ‘Great Famine’, that took place between 1959-61, reduced China’s population from 672.07 million in 1959 to 658.59 million in 1961.
(Population 658.59 million)
1964: Second census
China conducts its second population census.
(Population 704.99 million)
What was China’s 1-child policy and why was it so controversial?
1970: ‘Later, longer, fewer’
The “later, longer, fewer” family planning policy is introduced, allowing a maximum of two children per couple.
(Population 829.92 million)
1980: One-child policy introduced
Deng Xiaoping introduces China’s infamous one-child policy, with violators facing fines and often forced abortions.
(Population 987.05 million)
1982: Third census
China conducts its third population census, which confirms it as the first country with a population of more than 1 billion in 1981.
(Population 1.016 billion)
1990: Fourth census
China conducts its fourth population census.
(Population 1.143 billion)
1991: Replacement rate drops
China’s replacement rate drops below the level needed to maintain a stable population.
(Population 1.158 billion)
2000: Fifth census
China conducts its fifth population census.
(Population 1.267 billion)
03:58
The ageing Chinese town where the one-child policy worked too well
2010: Sixth census
China conducts its sixth population census.
(Population 1.34 billion)
2016: One-child policy ends
China’s one-child policy ends in favour of a two-child policy.
(Population 1.392 billion)
10:42
China 2020 census records slowest population growth in decades
2020: Seventh census
China conducts its seventh population census.
(Population 1.412 billion)
2021: Three-child policy introduced
China introduces a three-child policy.
(Population 1.4126 billion)
03:18
China reports first population decline in 6 decades, with birth rate at record low in 2022
2022: Historic decline
China’s population declines for the first time in six decades.
(Population 1.4118 billion)
