China's Population: Fewer People, More Challenges

China's population is shrinking for the third year in a row. This might not sound like a big deal, but it's a huge challenge for the country. With fewer people being born and more people living longer, China is facing a shortage of working-age folks. This is a common problem in many places, like Japan and South Korea, where people are putting off having kids while they pursue school and careers. China's tough immigration rules make things even trickier. After World War II, China's population boomed. But now, it's the opposite. This decline started in 2023, when China's population dropped for the first time in decades. The government has tried to encourage more babies by offering money and help with housing, but it hasn't worked that well. There are still more boys being born than girls, which could cause problems in the future. China is also getting older. Over a fifth of the population is now over 60. This is putting a lot of pressure on the country's pension system. Some schools are even being turned into care homes for seniors. The government is worried about all this, and they're considering changes to the retirement age. Despite these challenges, China's pushing ahead with big infrastructure projects and spending on the military. But it's clear that these population changes are causing some serious headaches.