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A 25-year-old named Grace and her husband are committed to living without children, despite societal and familial pressures to have offspring, as China endeavors to revive its declining birth rate.
Since abandoning its strict one-child policy in 2016 and introducing a two-child policy, China faces a looming demographic crisis. The country’s population has decreased for three consecutive years, with the United Nations projecting it could drop from 1.4 billion today to just 633 million by 2100.
In 2024, China recorded only 9.54 million births—half the number from 2016—and concerns about an aging and shrinking population are intensifying as more couples choose to defy traditional norms. Increasing numbers of young adults, like Grace, who identifies as part of the DINK (dual income, no kids) community, are either opting out of parenthood entirely or delaying it for several years. Their motivations include the high costs of raising children and personal career ambitions.
Grace, choosing to use her English name out of fear of repercussions, explained that she needs stable income and some savings before considering starting a family. Without these, she wouldn’t even entertain the idea of having children. The DINK label has gained popularity on Chinese social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu, with its hashtag accumulating over 731 million views, sparking diverse opinions on the subject.
“If I openly share that I’m a DINK and talk about how comfortable my life is, I know many people wouldn’t be happy about it,” Grace told AFP.
Shifting Perspectives
In response to ending the one-child policy—implemented for over 30 years to tackle poverty and overpopulation—Chinese authorities have introduced pronatalist incentives. In July, state media reported promises of increased childcare support, including subsidies of $500 annually per child under three.
However, experts warn that China still faces substantial challenges in increasing its birth rate. Since India overtook China as the world’s most populous country last year, the number of people choosing not to marry or have children continues to grow, and fertility intentions among young people remain weak. Cultural influences have also hindered the long-term success of pronatalist policies; many grew up during the one-child era and prefer smaller families.
High living costs and economic uncertainties further discourage reproduction. Wang Zibo, a 29-year-old resident of Beijing, shared that he and his wife plan to wait for the economy to stabilize before having children, even though he considers his finances solid. “The main reason many young couples aren’t having children now is because the economy still feels weak,” he said.
China’s pandemic recovery has been sluggish, compounded by a labor culture characterized by long hours—often under the “996” schedule: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. Wang observed, “People are overwhelmed with work, and it’s difficult even to find time to consider starting a family.”
The Burden of Parenthood
In 2021, China relaxed its family planning rules further, permitting couples to have three children—a choice many urban couples hesitate to make. Even having a single child is seen as a significant responsibility, as exemplified by a friend of Wang’s who had a baby shortly after marriage. “He often told me that he spends all his money on the child and loses himself in the process,” Wang said.
Demographer He Yafu warned that if China’s fertility rate remains around 1.0 long-term, the country will face ongoing declines in population size and an increasingly aging population. This trend could lead to increased elderly care burdens, weakened national strength, and hindered economic growth.
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