China's population continues to decline as Guangdong leads births

The National Bureau of Statistics recently released population data for last year,

showing a total of population of approximately 1.404 billion, a net decrease

of 3.39 million people compared to the previous year.

The total population continues to maintain a gentle downward trend.

Regarding birth figures, 7.92 milllion babies were born last year.

Guangdong Province has ranked first nationwide in newborn births for eight

consecutive years, recording approximately one million births last year.

It was also the only province in the country to surpass one million births,

accounting for 12.8% of the national total, meaning roughly one in every eight

newborns in China last year was born in Guangdong.

Analyst suggests that stronger family values in Guangdong, alongside local efforts

to foster a birth-friendly society, which effectively eases parents' concerns,

are also the key reasons for the region's higher birth rate.

Regarding the population issue, Premier Li Qiang noted during an executive meeting

of the State Council last week that population is a foundational condition for economic

and social development, emphasising the need to work towards stabilising

the scale of new births.