China's population drops for a second straight year as deaths jump
China’s population dropped by 2 million people in 2023 in the second straight annual drop as births fell and deaths jumped
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
China’s population dropped by 2 million people in 2023 in the second straight annual drop as births fell and deaths jumped.
The government’s statistics bureau said Wednesday that the total population was 1.4 billion last year.
The number of deaths more than doubled to 690,000. Demographers were expecting a rise in deaths in the early part of last year because of the sudden lifting of China’s COVID-19 restrictions in late 2022.
The number of births fell for the seventh year, though by less than in previous years. About 9 million babies were born last year, half of the total in 2016.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.