25 November 2023
By Juyeon Lee
Many people think China has the largest population in the world, but that is not true. China had been the top country on the list until recently, but earlier this year, more migrants arrived from India.
China's population shrank considerably as India's population rose. The number of babies born fell to half of what it was six years ago due to the severe low birth rate issue, and last year the percentage of individuals 65 and over surpassed 15%, ushering in an aging culture. In June, China's young unemployment rate reached a record high; the actual number is estimated to be 46%. This has led to a decline in the number of marriages during the last ten years as well as a delay in marriage age.
Furthermore, there are incredibly few women who marry men and have children. China used to enforce the "one-child policy" due to its excessive population. Some claim that the gender imbalance brought about by the desire for boys prevents more than 30 million Chinese men from getting married, even if they would like to. Because of this, some Chinese have decided to forgo the one-child restriction and instead permit triplet pregnancies and provide birth subsidies. It was ineffective, though, and issues like sexual discrimination and financial hardship persisted. China is a major world power; therefore, the effects of its low birth rate may be felt globally.
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