China’s Birthrate Plunges to Lowest Level Since 1949

“Declaring childbirth a patriotic act. Nagging newlyweds about family planning. Taxing condoms,” the New York Times reports.

“To get its citizens to have babies, the Chinese Communist Party has pulled every lever.”

“The efforts have largely failed. For the fourth year in a row, China reported more deaths than births in 2025 as its birthrate plunged to a record low, leaving its population smaller and older.”