Mainland China Aims to Build Fertility-Friendly Society Under 15th Five-Year Plan
RTHK · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Mainland China's birth rate has declined for the fourth consecutive year, dropping to 5.63 per 1,000 in 2023 — the lowest since records began in 1949. The government has introduced various measures to encourage childbirth, with the national 15th Five-Year Plan outline proposing to build a fertility-friendly society by reducing childbirth, upbringing, and education costs, while supporting social forces to provide diverse and affordable childcare services.
Key Points
- Mainland China's birth rate fell to 5.63 per 1,000 in 2023, marking four consecutive years of decline and the lowest figure since 1949
- A parent in Zhejiang with three children reports monthly family expenses exceeding 30,000 yuan RMB, and suggests the government add domestic helper subsidies to assist with household chores and childcare
- Shenzhen is accelerating construction of a "15-minute affordable childcare service circle," with the government providing free venues, operational subsidies, and quality evaluation guidance to childcare operators
- The plan proposes strengthening fertility protection through early pregnancy care programs and birth defect prevention initiatives, with Guangzhou's Zhongshan University First Affiliated Hospital optimizing one-stop early pregnancy services
- Feng Shuaizhang, director of the Jinan University Institute of Economics and Society, notes that rising childcare costs and workplace competition have reduced fertility willingness, and says the low birth rate trend is difficult to reverse in the short term
Why It Matters
The declining birth rate represents a significant demographic challenge for the mainland, with implications for workforce sustainability and economic growth. The 15th Five-Year Plan's focus on building a fertility-friendly society signals a policy shift toward comprehensive support systems that address the financial and practical barriers facing families, potentially influencing similar policy discussions in Hong Kong and other regions grappling with declining birth rates .
The declining birth rate represents a significant demographic challenge for the mainland, with implications for workforce sustainability and economic growth. The 15th Five-Year Plan's focus on building a fertility-friendly society signals a policy shift toward comprehensive support systems that address the financial and practical barriers facing families, potentially influencing similar policy discussions in Hong Kong and other regions grappling with declining birth rates .