The figures follow trends worldwide, but especially in East Asia, where Japan, South Korea and other nations have seen their birth rates plummet.

China's population decreased for the third consecutive year, with figures showing a drop by 1.39 million. This trend, reflective of global patterns, especially in East Asia, is driven by high living costs discouraging marriage and childbirth,

China’s population continued to decline last year—though births edged up for the first time in eight years—falling for a third straight year as deaths outpaced births.China had seen birth numbers plummet since 2017,

China said on Friday its population fell for the third year running in 2024, extending a downward streak after more than six decades of growth as the country faces a

China's population has decreased for the third consecutive year. In 2024, the number of deaths exceeded births by 1.39 million. Rapid urbanization, rising living costs, and gender inequalities are deepening the demographic crisis,