China lost 11 to 12 million people over the last 5 years because of low birth rate

In China for people under 35 years old the unemployment rate is over 16 percent compared to about 9% here in the U.S. for those under 35.

 

So, the very low birth rate in China, Japan and the U.S. and many many other developed countries is going to get worse because of AI and how expensive it is to have and to raise children now almost anywhere on Earth. 

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Over the last 5-year period (2021–2025), China experienced an overall net population loss of 11 to 12 million people. 

This net shrinkage is the result of deaths consistently outpacing births in a rapidly aging society. 

The Breakdown (2021–2025)

• 2025 Population Drop: Decreased by 3.39 million
• 2024 Population Drop: Decreased by 1.39 million
• 2021–2023 Population Drop: Decreased by roughly 6.5 million to 7 million 

Total Deaths vs. Total Births

• Deaths: With an aging population and a slight bump during the lifting of zero-COVID policies, China recorded between 10.9 and 11.3 million deaths annually.
• Births: Fertility has collapsed to historic lows, with births dropping from over 10 million to just 7.92 million in 2025. 

Demographic experts at the Rhodium Group warn that this structural decline will place significant stress on China's workforce and pension systems in the coming decades. For comprehensive historical data, you can track these trends over time on Macrotrends. 

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China's Demographic Future Is Now

Rhodium Group

https://rhg.com › China › Research

Apr 22, 2026 — We estimate China will lose nearly 60 million people in the next decade, roughly equivalent to the population of France.

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