Troubles deepen for Chinese government as fertility rate drops to record low

China’s fertility rate is estimated to have dropped to a record low of 1.09 last year, according to the National Business Daily. The worsening number is likely to trouble authorities even more as they try to improve the country’s declining birth rate.

China already has one of the world’s lowest fertility rates, alongside Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea. Concerned about the worrying drop in population size and a rapidly ageing society, the country is urgently trying a string of measures to lift the birth rate.

China intends to focus on science, technology and education to enhance population quality and maintain a “moderate fertility” level to support future economic growth. The measures being discussed currently include financial incentives and improved childcare facilities.

Authorities Encouraging Sharing The Duty Of Child-Rearing

High childcare costs and the possibility of having to abandon their careers have made scores of women in China reluctant about having more children or any at all. Traditional stereotypes of women caring for their children are still quite prevalent in Chinese society.

Although gender discrimination remains widespread throughout the country, authorities in recent months have been trying to increase rhetoric on sharing the responsibility of child-rearing. But paternity leave is yet to change for the better in most provinces.

Meanwhile, the number of childless women in Hong Kong more than doubled from five years ago to 43.2% in 2022, according to the Family Planning Association. The average number of children per woman dropped from 1.3 in 2017 to just 0.9 last year, its survey revealed.