China working-age population shrinks in biggest ever decline

WION Web Team

Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Feb 28, 2018, 10:29 AM IST

As China was never completely colonised, it continued to be ruled by its monarchs until Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong declared the creation of the People's Republic of China (PRC) after the Chinese Revolution of 1949. It celebrates National Day and not Independence Day. Photograph:(Others)

According to reports, China's working-age population is shrinking and was estimated to have fallen to its lowest since 2009 last year. The nation's working-age population was recorded below a billion for the first time since 2010, according to data released on Wednesday.

The country's total working-age population -- the number of people aged between 15 and 64 -- was estimated to be around 998.3 million people last year as compared to the year 2016 when the same was registered at 1.0026 billion.

Official data released by China's National Bureau of Statistics depicted the biggest decline since the working-age population in China began declining in 2014.

China's slowing population growth and shrinking pool of workers pose a serious threat to its economic growth as well as its state-run pension programme.

The country's rapidly ageing population has also triggered a shortfall in the nation's pension scheme.

According to a Reuters report, many of China's provinces only have enough money to pay less than one year’s worth of benefits. On the other hand, births in the country also see a downward trend as the same fell by 3.5 percent last year.

(With inputs from Reuters)