The demographic crisis is deepening in China. Thousands of famous kindergartens in China have been closed due to a sharp drop in the birth rate. At the same time, a record increase in the number of elderly people has been observed. For this reason, nursing homes are being opened instead of daycare centers. According to an official report, the number of daycare centers decreased from 274,400 to 14,808 in 2023. This is the second consecutive year in which figures of declining birth rates come to light in China.
The number of daycare centers is also continually decreasing
The number of children going to daycare is also declining for the third year in a row. Last year it saw a decline of around 12 percent when the figure from 40.9 million fell to just 5.35 million.
Primary schools are also declining
The number of primary schools also decreased from 143,500 to 5,645, a decrease of 3.8 percent. This decline reflects a broader demographic shift in China, where both the birth rate and total population continue to decline, posing a serious threat to future economic growth.
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China’s population is falling rapidly
Last year, China’s population declined for the second year in a row to 1.4 billion, a decline of more than 2 million. Only 9 million children were born in China in 2023, the lowest number since records began in 1949. As a result of declining birth rates, China lost its status as the most populous country last year. Now India is the most populous country in the world.
Increase in the number of older people
China faces a double crisis. On the one hand, there has been a decline in the birth rate and fertility, while, on the other, there is a rapid increase in the elderly population. By the end of 2023, the number of Chinese citizens aged 60 and over will approach 300 million. It is estimated that it will exceed 400 million in 2035 and 500 million in 2050.
Many daycare centers have become senior care centers and many employees have changed jobs to care for seniors, the Post reported.
