According to new data published this week, China's population may soon level off and then actively shrink as families have fewer babies and older residents age out of having children.
According to the South China Morning Post, the number of babies born in China last year was down by over a million from the year before.
Bad news.
Many experts agree that the change will take time.
China's natural population growth will not continue falling, it will fluctuate around zero, and there will be small drops, but there will not be rapid decreases in the next 20 years, according to a professor with the Population Development Studies Centre at Renmin University.
There are a few main causes behind the country's population decline, and experts disagree on how much it will shrink. China raised the limit to two children per household in 2016 after easing enforcement of its one-child policy.
Younger families are having a hard time making ends meet, and older families have aged out of their childbearing years, so it was too little too late.
The shrink is a problem for China. The New York Times says that a decline in the population could affect China's labor force and younger workers. Older workers may not be able to hold jobs and the government may struggle to pay for older people who are living longer.
Slow declines in the growth of a population is a good thing if you think about the carbon footprint. The repercussions of dropping populations could be felt worldwide.
Scientists say that a mass extinction event has begun.
Are you interested in supporting clean energy adoption? At UnderstandSolar.com, you can find out how much money you could save if you switched to solar power. Futurism.com may receive a small commission if you sign up through this link.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
