China said Friday its population fell for the third year running in 2024, extending a downward streak after more than six decades of growth as the country faces a rapidly ageing population and ...

China has been keen to slow population growth for several years. A larger population equals more mouths to feed, more houses and jobs required and a greater demand on schools and hospitals.

China's aging ... the working-age population will contract at an annual rate of 1%. "All other things being equal, this nearly 3 percentage point reduction in the growth rate in the working ...