China says COVID has exacerbated decline in births, marriages
HONG KONG (Reuters) – China’s Nationwide Well being Fee mentioned COVID-19 has contributed to the decline within the nation’s marriage and beginning charges that has accelerated in recent times as a result of excessive prices of schooling and child-rearing.
Many ladies are persevering with to delay their plans to marry or have kids, it mentioned, including that speedy financial and social developments have led to “profound modifications”.
Younger individuals relocating to city areas, extra time spent on schooling and high-pressure working environments have additionally performed their half, it added.
Demographers have additionally mentioned that China’s uncompromising “zero-COVID” coverage of promptly stamping out any outbreaks with strict controls on individuals’s lives might have brought about profound, lasting harm on their need to have kids.
“The coronavirus has additionally had a transparent influence on the wedding and childbirth preparations of some individuals,” the fee mentioned.
The feedback had been despatched to Reuters by way of fax late on Monday in response to questions on the subject.
New births in China are set to fall to file lows this yr, demographers say, with forecasts calling for a drop under 10 million in comparison with final yr’s 10.6 million infants – a stage 11.5% decrease than in 2020.
China had a fertility price of 1.16 in 2021, one of many lowest charges on the earth and under the two.1 price the OECD sees as crucial for a steady inhabitants. Having imposed a one-child coverage from 1980 to 2015, China has acknowledged its inhabitants is on brink of shrinking – a possible disaster that can check its capability to pay and look after its aged.
To counter the issue, authorities at nationwide and provincial ranges have over the previous yr launched measures reminiscent of tax breaks, longer maternity depart, enhanced medical insurance coverage, housing subsidies and extra cash for a 3rd little one.
(Reporting by Farah Grasp in Hong Kong and Albee Zhang in Beijing; Modifying by Edwina Gibbs)
