China's population declines for third straight year as deaths outnumber births

China's population decreased for the third year in a row in 2024, dropping by 1.39 million to 1.408 billion. The number of deaths exceeded a slight rise in births, with 9.54 million births compared to 9.02 million in 2023. The birth rate increased to 6.77 births per 1,000 people, up from 6.39 in 2023. However, the number of deaths fell slightly from 11.1 million in 2023 to 10.93 million in 2024. Experts note that structural issues, such as high living costs and gender discrimination, contribute to the declining birth rate. Authorities have introduced measures to encourage marriage and childbearing, but challenges remain.