China’s birth rate fell to its lowest level since 1949, dropping to 5.6 births per 1,000 people, according to data released by the National Statistics Bureau. The number of newborns declined by 1.6 million to 7.9 million, while the total population fell by 3.4 million to 1.405 billion. The figures are a setback for President Xi Jinping’s fertility drive, which includes cash incentives for parents. Couples are offered about $500 per child per year until age three, alongside extended parental leave and easier marriage registration. Demographers cite high living costs, fewer women of childbearing age, and reluctance to marry as key causes.

China’s birth rate fell to its lowest level since 1949, dropping to 5.6 births per 1,000 people, according to data released by the National Statistics Bureau. The number of newborns declined by 1.6 million to 7.9 million, while the total population fell by 3.4 million to 1.405 billion. The figures are a setback for President Xi Jinping’s fertility drive, which includes cash incentives for parents. Couples are offered about $500 per child per year until age three, alongside extended parental leave and easier marriage registration. Demographers cite high living costs, fewer women of childbearing age, and reluctance to marry as key causes.