Birth rate falls despite relaxation of one-child policy in China

APD NEWS

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For many couples in China eager to expand their family, the first day of 2016 was unforgettable. Beijing ended its one-child policy and allowed couples to have a maximum of two children, with the aim of strengthening the workforce of a nation with 240 million elderly people.

Wang Pei'an, deputy director of the State Family Planning Commission said "the two-child policy targets 90 million people. 30 million births are expected by 2050 after the policy is implemented. The workforce is expected to increase by more than 30 million people."

However, the passion for having babies isn't what it used to be.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's birth rate was sluggish in 2017. There were about 17.2 million births last year, down 0.7 million in comparison with 2016. The birth rate dropped from around 12.9 percent to 12.4 percent, and the number of couples who start families fell as well.

Many young Chinese say they are reluctant to have babies. If more families continue the idea of not having children, it could depress China's economy and fray the nation's safety net.

Japan has been grappling with the issue as well. The number of Japanese children born last year was the lowest since records began in 1899.

Experts warn that China's declining birth rate might be more rapid than Japan's, and, if it continues it may lead to a demographic disaster. Increasing China's birth rate still remains a huge challenge.

(CGTN)