China's population declines for third consecutive year, raising demographic concerns

China's population decreased for the third consecutive year, reaching 1.408 billion at the end of 2024. This decline of 1.39 million highlights ongoing demographic challenges, including an aging population and a shortage of working-age individuals. The drop in birth rates is attributed to rising living costs, leading many young people to delay marriage and parenthood. China's sex ratio remains imbalanced, with 104.34 men for every 100 women, contributing to potential social issues. Despite government incentives to encourage larger families, such as cash payouts and housing assistance, these measures have had limited success. Urbanization continues, with 10 million more people moving to cities, raising the urbanization rate to 67%.