‘India, China should…’: Beijing’s message as its population dwindles

The most populous nation of the world is facing a major demographic crisis. China's population has shrunk for the first time in more than six decades. The country of 1.4 billion is witnessing birth rates plummet to record lows. The national birth rate has hit 6.77 births per 1000 people for the year 2022. As per China's National Bureau of Statistics, there has been a decrease of 850,000 from last year. China's birth rate has been declining for years now. Its population trends have largely been shaped by the one-child policy, which was scrapped seven years ago. The worsening population trends have prompted the Xi Jinping government to bring in policies aimed at a sustained increase in births. Meanwhile, the United Nations says India is set to dethrone China as the most populous country in the world this year.