China's Population Declines for Second Consecutive Year Amid Economic Challenges

China's population dropped by 2 million in 2023, marking the second consecutive annual decrease, with births declining for the seventh straight year and deaths increasing by 690,000. The country's total population now stands at 1.4 billion, and it has fallen to second place behind India in terms of population. The declining fertility rate and aging population pose long-term economic and societal challenges, prompting the government to issue guidelines for developing the "silver" economy and enhancing the well-being of older people. Despite government incentives and the easing of the one-child policy, birth rates remain low, leading to concerns about the country's future demographic landscape.