According to the recently released 2024 China Statistical Yearbook, China’s population decreased by 2.08 million people in 2023. The country’s natural population growth rate fell to -1.48 per thousand, marking a decline of 8.8 percentage points from the previous year. The national birth rate dropped to 6.39 per thousand, meaning fewer than 7 births per 1,000 people.
Among China’s 31 provinces and regions, only eight maintained positive natural population growth rates. These areas included Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Guizhou, Tibet, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Xinjiang. Among these, Guangdong Province stands out — despite being highly urbanized (ranking 4th in urbanization nationwide), the province achieved a birth rate of 8.12 per thousand, making it a significant exception to the general trend where higher birth rates typically correlate with lower urbanization levels.
Guangdong has maintained its position as China’s leading province in terms of births, being the only province to record over 1 million births (1.03 million) for four consecutive years. Population experts attribute this to several factors. Dr. Dong Yuzheng, president of the Guangdong Sociological Association, points to strong family values and traditional influences in the eastern (Chaoshan) and western regions of Guangdong. Additionally, Peng Peng, Executive Chairman of the Guangdong System Reform Research Society, notes that while fertility intentions are declining across the board, these regions maintain relatively higher birth rates due to cultural factors and a large, young migrant population of childbearing age.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), November 10, 2024
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202411100108.aspx