Official data released Monday by the National Bureau of Statistics showed the population fell by 3.39 million to 1.405 billion, marking a faster decline than in 2024.

Births dropped to 7.92 million in 2025, the lowest figure recorded in decades, down from 9.54 million the previous year. At the same time, deaths rose to 11.31 million from 10.93 million in 2024, further accelerating the overall population decrease.

China’s population has been shrinking since 2022 and is ageing rapidly. 

Analysts say the trend could have long-term economic implications, including a smaller workforce, slower growth potential and increased pressure on public services such as healthcare and pensions. With hundreds of millions expected to retire over the coming decades, policymakers face growing urgency to address labour shortages and rising social welfare costs.

Marriage rates, often seen as a key indicator of future birth trends, also weakened significantly. In 2024, more than 6.1 million couples registered for marriage, down from 7.68 million in 2023, representing the largest year-on-year decline on record. 

Social researchers have linked the fall to a combination of economic uncertainty, high housing and education costs, and changing attitudes toward marriage and family life.

In response, authorities have introduced measures aimed at encouraging family formation and easing administrative hurdles.

In May 2025, China began allowing couples to register marriages anywhere in the country rather than only in their place of residence. Some demographers believe the change could lead to a modest, short-term increase in marriages and births, though they caution that structural factors such as income pressures and urban lifestyles are likely to continue weighing on fertility rates.