Countries face challenges of shrinking and aging populations including China and Japan

Countries like China, Japan, and Italy are facing declining and aging populations. China's population fell for the third consecutive year in 2024, dropping to 1.408 billion. Japan's population has decreased by 3 million since 2008, with record low births in 2023. Italy's birth rate has also declined, falling below 400,000 for the first time since the 19th century. The Italian government aims to increase births to 500,000 annually by 2033, while Pope Francis encourages families to have more children. In South Korea, the population slightly increased in 2023 due to a rise in foreign residents. However, the birth rate continues to decline as younger generations face high living costs and cultural pressures regarding childcare.