China’s capital sees first population decline since 2003

The death rate of the capital of China surpassed the birth rate in 2022, according to official data released Tuesday, putting natural population growth in negative territory for the first time since 2003.

The mortality rate in the city of 21.84 million inhabitants, one of the most populated urban centers in the country, amounted to 5.72 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants, while the birth rate fell to 5.67 births per 1,000 inhabitants, showed the official statistics published by the Government of Beijing.

Beijing’s population decline was in line with the national trend, as China’s population declined in 2022 for the first time in six decades, weighed down by rising costs of living, especially in sprawling big cities like Beijing, the weak economic growth and the change of attitude regarding the formation of a family.

In early December, the countrywide lifting of strict COVID-19-related restrictions triggered a surge of infections and caused an unknown number of deaths.

Beijing’s natural population growth was minus 0.05 per 1,000 people last year.

The data is based on a sample survey that began on November 1, according to a footnote to the release, which does not specify how long it lasted.

China’s birth rate last year was 6.77 births per 1,000 people, the lowest on record, while the country’s death rate, the highest since 1974, was 7.37 deaths per 1,000 people. .

Source: Reuters