The costly living and education expenses, coupled with the impact of the one-child policy, caused more deaths than births in Beijing in 2022.
New population data has revealed that Beijing’s population has decreased for the first time in almost two decades. In 2022, the Chinese capital, which is home to over 21 million people, experienced a natural population decline of -0.05 per 1,000 people due to more deaths than births. According to a report by Beijing authorities, the city’s death rate increased to 5.72 deaths per 1,000 people, while the birth rate declined to 5.67 births per 1,000 people. Demographers noted that this negative trend is consistent with national patterns and reflects the economic and social factors contributing to China’s declining birth rate.
Xiujian Peng, a senior research fellow at the Centre of Policy Studies at Victoria University in Australia, commented that the low birthrate among permanent residents in Beijing is unsurprising given the high cost of living and education levels in the city. The Chinese government is attempting to counteract this trend to avoid the economic consequences of an aging population. Official data from last year indicated that China’s birthrate dropped to a record low of 6.77 births per 1,000 people. It’s worth noting that the population figures for Beijing only reflect permanent residents and do not include the substantial number of migrant workers who come to the city in search of economic opportunities.
China’s one-child policy was enforced for decades until its lifting in 2016. Despite the authorities’ encouragement of couples to have more than one child, people are opting not to due to various reasons, including the high cost of living, traditional gender roles, and demanding work cultures. Although legislative changes and social reforms have been implemented, such as increased access to maternal healthcare and IVF, reduced bureaucracy in birth registrations, financial incentives, and discouragement of abortions, the trend of declining birth rates remains unchanged.
A 42-year-old Beijing resident who originally came from a rural family stated, “It is too difficult to marry and have children to live a stable life.” This individual moved to Beijing for university and work, but in recent years has faced economic difficulties, unemployment, and salary reductions. They added that it is impossible to buy a house in Beijing, making it challenging to plan for a family.
