Death of a superpower: is China facing a decade of decline? 

For the first time in 60 years, China’s population has fallen – leading to concerns about its superpower status

A newborn baby in Fuyang, China
New figures show the national birth rate has hit a record low: 6.77 births per 1,000 people
(Image credit: (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images))

China’s population has fallen for the first time in 60 years, leading to predictions that after years of booming growth the country is now facing a period of economic and social decline.

China’s National Bureau of Statistics released figures yesterday showing the national birth rate has hit a record low: 6.77 births per 1,000 people. By comparison, in 2021, the United States recorded 11.06 births per 1,000 people, and the United Kingdom, 10.08 births.

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Arion McNicoll is a freelance writer at The Week Digital and was previously the UK website’s editor. He has also held senior editorial roles at CNN, The Times and The Sunday Times. Along with his writing work, he co-hosts “Today in History with The Retrospectors”, Rethink Audio’s flagship daily podcast, and is a regular panellist (and occasional stand-in host) on “The Week Unwrapped”. He is also a judge for The Publisher Podcast Awards.