Story perspectives

Guangdong's Low Fertility Sparks Urgent Policy Reform Calls

10/12/2025

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Center

Guangdong's Fertility Challenges

Guangdong province ranks second to last in a fertility-friendliness index, reflecting inadequate maternal and child healthcare and limited institutional support.
The province offers only 98 days of government-supported paid maternity leave, below the national average.
Researchers from Nanjing University emphasize the need to better align fertility conditions with policy support to inform effective policymaking.
This situation reflects broader challenges in addressing China's declining birth rates.

Left

China's Population Crisis

China faces a rapid internal population decline that threatens its long-term growth.
The median age rose from 23.7 in 1990 to 39.1 in 2023.
Birth rates fell from 2.51 to 1.12 children per woman.
Despite policy changes allowing more children, financial burdens deter many from starting families.
Projections show more elderly than working-age individuals by 2100, signaling pension strain and potential effects on manufacturing and inflation.

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Guangdong's Fertility Challenges

Guangdong province ranks second to last in a fertility-friendliness index, reflecting inadequate maternal and child healthcare and limited institutional support.
The province offers only 98 days of government-supported paid maternity leave, below the national average.
Researchers from Nanjing University emphasize the need to better align fertility conditions with policy support to inform effective policymaking.
This situation reflects broader challenges in addressing China's declining birth rates.

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