International News
China’s Population Shrinks For Third Year Amid Aging Crisis, Low Birth Rate
China’s population shrank for the third consecutive year in 2024, as the nation grapples with a rapidly aging society, persistently low birth rates, and mounting economic pressures.
The country’s National Bureau of Statistics reported a population of 1.408 billion by the end of the year, down from 1.410 billion in 2023.
The population decrease reflects a broader demographic shift following decades of robust growth.
Once the world’s most populous nations, China was overtaken by India in 2023.
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Despite government efforts to boost birth rates through subsidies, pro-fertility campaigns, and policy adjustments, the decline persists.
Data shows that the number of people aged 60 and older rose to 310.31 million in 2024, representing nearly a quarter of the population.
This marks a significant increase from 297 million in 2023. Experts project that by 2035, seniors will comprise nearly one-third of China’s population.
“The aging crisis poses unprecedented challenges for China’s pension and public health systems,” said Zhao Litao, a senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s East Asian Institute.
China’s birth rate saw a slight increase in 2024, rising to 6.77 per 1,000 people, up from 6.52 in 2023.
Experts attribute this to deferred childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic and a rise in marriages in 2023 and 2024, particularly during the auspicious Year of the Dragon.
However, demographers remain skeptical about the sustainability of this uptick. “The number of women of childbearing age is set to decline sharply in the coming decades,” said independent demographer He Yafu. “Unless significant pro-birth policies are introduced, the downward population trend will persist.”
China ended its strict one-child policy in 2016 and later allowed families to have up to three children in 2021.
Despite these changes, economic factors, such as the rising cost of living and housing, have deterred many from expanding their families.
Additionally, the growing number of women pursuing higher education and careers has contributed to falling birth rates.
“Chinese women still face entrenched labor market gender discrimination, which discourages childbirth,” said Yun Zhou, a sociologist at the University of Michigan.
China’s demographic challenges are compounded by slowing economic growth and increasing pressure on social systems.
In response, the government raised the statutory retirement age from January 1, 2024, to address labor shortages and ease the burden on pension systems.
The retirement age reform marks the first adjustment in decades, reflecting China’s transition from a period of scarcity to one of comparative wealth and improved living conditions.
Despite incremental efforts, experts predict that China’s demographic crisis will persist. “The trends of declining births, population contraction, and rapid aging remain unchanged,” Zhao Litao noted.
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
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The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.
The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.
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According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.
Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.
Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.
For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.
US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.
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According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.
“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”
“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.
“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.
Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.
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