China’s population is about to shrink for the first time since the great famine struck 60 years ago. Here's what that means for the world

Jul 26, 2022

China's population is on track to turn down this year, for the first time since the great famine of 1959-1961. Image: Unsplash/Ewan Yap

Xiujian Peng

Senior Research Fellow, Victoria University

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China’s population is predicted to decrease to 587 million in 2100, less than half of what it is today. Image: Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences

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China working-age population vs 65+ population.

China’s elderly population is expected to pass the working-age population around 2080. Image: Shanghai Academy of Social Science

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