Countries including China face challenges of declining and aging populations

More countries, including China, are facing declining and aging populations. China's population fell for the third consecutive year in 2024, dropping by nearly 1.4 million to 1.408 billion. Japan and South Korea also report ongoing population declines. Japan's population has decreased by 3 million since 2008, with births hitting a record low in 2023. The government is concerned about the demographic situation, projecting a significant drop in population by 2070. In Italy, births fell below 400,000 for the first time since the 19th century. The government aims to increase births to 500,000 annually by 2033. South Korea's population saw a slight increase due to foreign residents, but the birthrate continues to decline.