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Global Birthrates Plummet: China's Decline Sparks Economic Concerns

2/5/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Global birthrates are declining.
China's birthrate has reached its lowest level since 1949.
Experts predict China's population could be halved by the end of the century.
The decline also appears in the United States, India, South Korea, Italy, Colombia, and Mexico, where fertility rates are falling.
Amanda Taub, a reporter on demographic changes, warns that this demographic shift could threaten economic productivity, innovation, and political stability.

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Story summary

Global birthrates are declining.
China's birthrate has reached its lowest level since 1949.
Experts predict China's population could be halved by the end of the century.
The decline also appears in the United States, India, South Korea, Italy, Colombia, and Mexico, where fertility rates are falling.
Amanda Taub, a reporter on demographic changes, warns that this demographic shift could threaten economic productivity, innovation, and political stability.