China’s population declined last year for the first time since 1961, a historic turning point that is expected to mark the beginning of a long period of decline in civilian numbers and overtake India as the world’s most populous country in 2023.
China’s National Bureau of Statistics said the country would have 1.41175 billion people at the end of 2022, up from 1.41260 billion a year earlier.
Last year’s birth rate was 6.77 births per 1,000 people, down from 7.52 births in 2021 and the lowest birth rate on record.
China also recorded its highest death rate since 1976, with 7.37 deaths per 1,000 people compared to a rate of 7.18 deaths in 2021.