China’s population crisis demands ‘dynamic monitoring’ of households, more support: adviser

Goal would be a dynamic new system that helps authorities know more about families and abate China’s demographic woes

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Last year, China’s population dropped for the second year in a row, down to 1.4097 billion after a 2.08-million-person decline. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 10:00am, 14 Jul 2024

To keep better apprised of population and household changes and trends across China during its dim demographic crisis, Beijing has been urged to establish a vast data-monitoring system and brace for population declines becoming the norm.

“China’s population and family statistics system and dynamic monitoring mechanisms should be improved, with increased financial and personnel support,” said He Dan, director of the China Population and Development Research Centre, a think tank affiliated with the National Health Commission.

“The goal is to establish a uniquely Chinese population-and-family-statistics system, and a dynamic monitoring system, during the ‘15th five-year plan’ period from 2026-30,” the policy adviser added.

The suggestions are intended to research the mechanisms behind population and family changes; to support demographic decision-making and family services; and to actively address the effects of low fertility and ageing, He wrote in an article published in the June issue of the commission’s Population and Health magazine.

The proposals came amid persistent concerns regarding China’s demographic crisis – a shrinking population is rapidly ageing as births plunge and many young adults are increasingly reluctant to start a family.

Economists have called China’s demographic dilemma one of the major obstacles to the expansion of the world’s second-largest economy.