China’s population fell last year for the third consecutive year, its government said on Friday, pointing to other demographic challenges for the world’s second most populous country, which is now grappling with an aging population and a shortage of working people.
China’s population stood at 1.408 billion at the end of 2004, a decrease of 1.39 million from the previous year.
The figures announced by the government in Beijing follow trends around the world, but especially in East Asia, where Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and other countries have seen their levels drop. China three years ago joined Japan and most of Eastern Europe among other nations in declining numbers.
The reasons are the same in many cases: Rising costs of living are causing young people to postpone or postpone marriage and childbearing while pursuing higher education and careers. Although people are living longer, that is not enough to keep up with the new birth rate.
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