Beijing, February 13 The number of children desired by Chinese couples has risen from 1.76 in 2017 to 1.64 in 2021, being even lower among those born after 1990, according to a recent study cited by state media Chinese.
Couples formed by those born after 1990 expect to give birth to 1.54 children, while those born in the 21st century want to have 1.48 children, state broadcaster CCTV reported in recent hours, citing a study in which The Chinese Family Planning Association and the Chinese Population Research Center participated.
The study reflects a “double transition” to “smaller families” and a “low fertility rate” in Chinese society.
The average age of first marriage for Chinese women has risen from 22 in 1980 to 26.3 in 2020, the research shows.
Similarly, the age at which women give birth to their first child in the Asian country is 27.2 years.
The study notes that around 70% of women under 35 think a woman’s life is only “complete” if she has children.
Executive Vice President of the Chinese Planned Parenthood Association, Wang Peian, told an event that it was necessary to “flexibilize working hours” and encourage couples to “share responsibilities in the family”. ‘education of children’.
After decades of imposing a one-child policy and then extending it to two, China has allowed its citizens to have a third child since 2021, although the decision was not met with much enthusiasm. by the population, both because of the economic burden that the education as well as the priority given to a career.
China recorded a drop of 850,000 in 2022 in its population, which closed 2022 with 1,411.75 million, compared to 1,412.6 million recorded by the country at the end of 2021.
International experts have predicted that neighboring India, with a population of around 1.38 billion today, will overtake China in the near future to become the most populous country on the planet. EFE
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