李迅雷专栏 | 再论：中国人口往何处去？

Core Insights - China's total population has been declining for three consecutive years since peaking in 2021, with projections indicating it will fall below 1.4 billion by 2027, 1.3 billion by 2039, and 1.2 billion by 2047 [2][11] - The number of newborns is expected to drop below 9 million by 2025, fall below 8 million by 2028, and potentially dip below 7 million by 2035, with a slower decline in the subsequent decade [10][11] - China entered a deep aging society in 2021, expected to reach an ultra-aging society by 2032, and will match Japan's current aging level by 2048 [14][16] Population Trends - The fertility rate among women aged 15-29 is significantly higher than in Japan and the UK, but the fertility rate for women aged 30-49 is notably low, indicating a need for policies encouraging childbirth among older women [24][25] - The decline in marriage rates is attributed to gender imbalance, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 115:100 for those born between 2006-2010, which may lead to severe gender disparities in the upcoming decade [33][36] - Educational disparities also contribute to declining marriage rates, as there are more men with lower education levels compared to women with higher education, complicating the marriage prospects for educated women [3][38] Urbanization and Migration - Urbanization rates have slowed, with the average annual growth rate dropping from 1.4 percentage points to about 0.8 percentage points post-2021, while the urbanization rate is projected to reach 67% by 2024 [42][44] - The average age of migrant workers has risen to 43.1 years, with over 30% being over 50, indicating a trend of aging among the workforce and a decrease in population mobility [46][48] - Major urban areas continue to attract population inflows, with cities like Suzhou, Nanjing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou experiencing significant net population increases [62][64] Economic Implications - The industrial workforce has been declining since 2012, with projections indicating a drop from 2.32 billion in 2012 to 2.13 billion by 2024, highlighting a shift towards the service sector [72][79] - The service sector's share of GDP is expected to rise, with the third sector projected to account for 57% of GDP by 2024, compared to 36% for the secondary sector [69][79] - The aging population and rising dependency ratio will increase demand for services, necessitating a focus on developing the service industry to stabilize employment [80][100]