Population drop last year likely more than 2022

Expert predicts only mild downward trend in figure over next 3 decades

The decline in China's population last year is likely to have exceeded the historic fall recorded in 2022, but the overall downward trend in the next three decades will be mild, a senior demographer said on Tuesday.

Yuan Xin, a professor at Nankai University's School of Economics and vice-president of the China Population Association, said the decline will be greater because of the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the decreasing number of women of childbearing age, a low willingness to have babies and the growing trend of getting married and having babies at a later age.

He made the remarks during a forum held by the association ahead of the release of the 2023 population data on Wednesday.